To celebrate 60 years of teaching and teacher training, International House is hosting a special conference online on 29 and 30 November 2013.
http://ihworld.com/60conference/register
A minha Lista de blogues
sábado, 16 de novembro de 2013
60th anniversary conference
To celebrate 60 years of teaching and teacher training, International House is hosting a special conference online on 29 and 30 November 2013.
http://ihworld.com/60conference/register
Portugal vs. Sweden play-off
(AP Photo/Armando Franca) The Associated Press
Cristiano Ronaldo scored with a diving header eight minutes from the end to give Portugal a 1-0 win in the first leg of a World Cup play-off against Sweden in Lisbon.
terça-feira, 12 de novembro de 2013
America´s tallest building
One World Trade Center is officially taller than the Willis Tower in Chicago, which had been the tallest building in the country since it was completed — and named the Sears Tower — in 1974.
One World Trade Center, which will debut in 2014, is still under construction. However, a majority of the structure is complete. It has 94 floors above ground , five floors below and 71 elevators with a top speed of 10.16 meters per second.
The Empire State Building was named after New York, "The Empire State".This skyscraper was the world´s tallest building for 40 years, until the completion of the World Trade Center (Twin Towers) 1n 1970.
The Chrysler Building was completed in 1930. It was briefly the tallest building in the world until the Empire State Building opened in 1931.
The Woolworth Building, which was completed in 1913, was the tallest building in the world until the Chrysler in 1930. One of the curious things about this building is that it was paid in cash.
The Flatiron Building is a 22- storeyed limestone structure resembling an iron. In 1902 it was one of the first skyscrapers.
Reference:
More about New York:
segunda-feira, 11 de novembro de 2013
Saint Martin
San Martín y el mendigo (1597-1600) by El Greco
Saint Martin is best known for the story of using his military sword to cut his cloak in two, to give half to a beggar dressed only in rags in the depth of winter.
My sister and I at São Martinho Church, Funchal, Madeira
(1883-1918)
domingo, 10 de novembro de 2013
25 Reasons to Love Lisbon
Do you know why you love Lisbon?
The Lisbon Magazine came out with 25 reasons to love Lisbon.
Read here!
More about Lisbon in this Blog:
LISBON
A TOURIST IN BELEM
EUROPEAN BEST DESTINATION
SAINT ANTHONY
Why the poppy?
The Duke of Cambridge meets veterans at the Korean War Memorial in London, 5 November 2013.
Wearing a poppy has become a symbol of remembrance, for all the fallen soldiers of WWI.
The Canadian doctor John McCrae wrote the poem In Flanders Fields in memory of his fallen comrades: “the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row..” It describes the first sign of life after death - small red plants that grew on the graves of soldiers in the battle fields of Northern France and Flanders during WWI.
The poem inspired American secretary Moina Michael to sell poppies to raise funds for ex-soldiers.
It soon became the US national emblem of remembrance in 1920, although it has been replaced by a red, white and blue ribbon on the lapel.
The Royal British Legion adopted the poppy in 1921 and, in 2010, distributed 45 million of them in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This year, it hopes to raise £40m in donations, which will be used to assist retired or injured soldiers. According to the Royal British Legion "If you are a civilian, make sure your poppy is always close to your heart, by wearing the poppy on your left lapel, or left side of your body".
Kate Middleton and Prince William surprised commuters at a London tube station as they joined volunteers who were selling poppies.
In Scotland, about five million poppies are distributed each year by Poppyscotland, but they look slightly different. Unlike the standard two petals and a single green leaf, the Scottish ones have four petals and no leaf. There's also a financial reason for the difference, since adding a leaf would cost an extra £15,000.
Prince William has written to Fifa demanding it lifts the ban on England shirts being embroidered with poppies as Fifa decrees that shirts should not carry political, religious or commercial messages. Mr Cameron added: "The idea that wearing a poppy to remember those who have given their lives for our freedom is a political act is absurd…Wearing a poppy is an act of huge respect and national pride."
Today, in London, at a ceremony lead by the Queen, more than 10,000 military veterans and civilians marched past the Cenotaph to honour the dead soldiers of all wars. Since last year, 10 members of the UK armed forces have died during military operations.
Sky News live at the Cenotaph
Older posts about the First World War:
sexta-feira, 8 de novembro de 2013
Em Memória da minha Avó Maria: sobre a I Guerra Mundial.
Avó Maria (1892-1975)
Quando se aproxima a evocação do centenário da Grande Guerra, em 2014 e o 95º aniversário da assinatura do armistício, que pôs fim à Primeira Guerra Mundial no dia 11 de novembro, dedico este post à minha avó Maria (1892-1975). Costumava, emocionada, contar-me histórias da Grande Guerra, como a dos bombardeamentos do Funchal por submarinos alemães, ocorridos em 1916, no dia 3 de dezembro e, pouco mais de um ano depois, em 12 de dezembro de 1917.
A Alemanha havia declarado guerra a Portugal no dia 9 de março de 1916, em resultado do apresamento, por parte do governo português, dos barcos alemães e austro-húngaros fundeados em portos nacionais, em resposta a um pedido oficial da Grã-Bretanha, ao abrigo da Aliança Luso-Britânica.
A baía do Funchal durante a Grande Guerra
O primeiro bombardeamento do Funchal durou cerca de duas horas. Foi precedido pelo torpedeamento da canhoeira La Surprise da marinha de guerra francesa, ancorada no porto daquela capital madeirense, que submergiu em cerca de dois minutos e provocou a morte imediata de 33 tripulantes e 8 madeirenses da empresa Blandy, que no momento forneciam carvão ao navio. O navio francês Kanguroo foi também torpedeado. No entanto, como a submersão não foi tão rápida, ainda disparou vinte e cinco tiros contra o submarino, embora nenhum deles tivesse atingido o alvo.
Decorrido pouco tempo foi a vez do vapor mercante inglês Dacia ser atingido, mas a tripulação, alertada, abandonou o navio e não houve perdas pessoais.
Bóias de salvação no museu da Liga dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra.
O segundo bombardeamento provocou a morte de cinco pessoas, fez cerca de trinta feridos e registaram-se graves prejuízos em diversos pontos da cidade, nomeadamente na igreja de Santa Clara, onde o Padre Abel da Silva Branco celebrava missa.
A iluminação pública noturna foi proibida, como medida de defesa e só voltou a ser autorizada e, portanto, restabelecida, em 11 de novembro de 1918, quando chegaram à Madeira as notícias da assinatura do armistício.
Entretanto na Flandres, o Corpo Expedicionário Português, em véspera de ser rendido por tropas inglesas, sofreu o principal impacto da última e desesperada grande ofensiva do exército alemão na Batalha de La Lys, em 9 de abril de 1918.
Derrotado pelos enormes bombardeamentos e superioridade numérica das tropas alemãs ficou inoperacional, até ao final daquele terrível conflito. Todavia, alguma da resistência portuguesa deu tempo a forças britânicas para tapar a brecha, que o estado-maior germânico procurava cavar, dividindo os exércitos aliados para chegar ao mar.
Dos muitos heróis portugueses desse trágico e sangrento confronto, destacou-se o soldado “Milhões”, como ficou conhecido Aníbal Augusto Milhais, o qual, com grande bravura, conseguiu proteger, de metralhadora e indiferente ao fogo dos alemães, a retirada de numerosos soldados. Foi condecorado com a Ordem Militar da Torre e Espada, a mais alta insígnia portuguesa, entre outras condecorações nacionais e estrangeiras.
No esforço de Guerra, as mulheres desempenharam um papel fundamental ao substituírem os homens, que tinham partido para a guerra, em todo o tipo de trabalhos.
No fim da I Guerra Mundial, em Inglaterra as mulheres vão ganhar o direito a votar, em 1918, se tiverem 30 anos e forem proprietárias. Mais tarde, em 1928, essa legislação foi revogada e substituída por outra, que deu a capacidade de voto a todas as mulheres inglesas com mais de 21 anos.
Em Portugal, a minha avó Maria, que me contava comovida o sofrimento madeirense durante a I Guerra Mundial, teve de esperar pelo 25 de Abril de 1974 para sentir a emoção de poder votar…
Referências:
Henriques, Mendo e A. Leitão. La Lys 1918. Os Soldados Desconhecidos. Prefácio. 2001
SILVA, Fernando Augusto da; MENESES, Carlos Azevedo de – Elucidário madeirense. Funchal: Direcção Regional dos Assuntos Culturais, 1998. Edição fac-similada da edição de 1940-1946.
Catálogo da exposição Viva a República 1910-2010
http://www.visualnews.com/2013/09/03/working-women-first-world-war/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal_during_World_War_I
http://www.momentosdehistoria.com/MH_02_08_Marinha.htm
8 de novembro de 1960
No dia 8 de novembro de 1960, John F. Kennedy tornou-se o mais jovem presidente a ser eleito nos EUA. Tinha 43 anos. Foi também o primeiro católico a ser eleito.
Panda Cub’s Naming Contest
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is asking for help to name its female giant panda cub born on August 23, 2013.
Panda fans can vote until November 22. The winning name will be revealed at a ceremony on December 1, when the cub is 100 days old, as it is traditional in China.
• Bao Bao: Precious; treasure.
• Ling Hua: Darling; delicate flower.
• Long Yun: “Long,” meaning dragon; “yun,” meaning charming.
• Mulan: A female Chinese warrior from the fifth century; magnolia flower.
• Zhen Bao: Treasure; valuable.
Vote !
On July 15 two panda twins were born at Zoo Atlanta.
quarta-feira, 6 de novembro de 2013
Laranja, orange, portakal
The orange could be found in China around 2200 BC. In the map, in green, we can see the countries that named it after Portugal, as the Portuguese merchants were the first to introduce the orange in Europe. However, the dominant word in much of eastern and northern Europe comes from a word meaning "apple from China”
The orange left Lisbon to discover America with Christopher Columbus on his second voyage. He planted the first orange tree in the New World in 1493, in Haiti, then called Hispaniola.
The first American orange plantation was Spanish. It flourished in Florida, in St Augustine in the 16th century.
King William of Orange (1650-1702), who took his name from The House of Orange- the principality and town of Orange in south-east France, made many anti- Catholic laws, very unpopular in Ireland. As a result the people of that island declared no orange tree should ever grow on Irish soil.
Paul Cézanne. Still Life with a Curtain .1895
In the 19th century poor children dreamed of getting a precious orange for Christmas.
References:
segunda-feira, 4 de novembro de 2013
Remember, remember the fifth of November
On November 5, 1605, Guy Fawkes and a group of Catholic conspirators led by Robert Catesby were captured when trying to blow up the Parliament with barrels of gunpowder at the moment Protestant King James I was present. This event became known as The Gunpowder Plot. The fact is that since Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, Catholics had been persecuted for their beliefs. They hoped their situation would improve with King James I, but were soon very disappointed as this king introduced even more stringent laws against the Catholics, which effectively made their lives worse.
Guy Fawkes`Day is a unique British festival that commemorates that historic event. The foiling of the plot (Fawkes was taken to the Tower of London where he was tortured and executed after confessing) has been a traditional celebration in England. On the night before (known as Bonfire Night), bonfires are lit where sometimes an effigy of Guy is burned. Firework displays are also organized in many cities.
The Gunpowder Plot is so much entrenched in British culture that it is immortalized in this rhyme:
Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason, why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, guy, t’was his intent
To blow up king and parliament.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England’s overthrow.
By God’s mercy he was catch’d
With a darkened lantern and burning match.
So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring.
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.
And what shall we do with him?
Burn him!”
Hip hip hoorah!
Read in Portuguese: DIA de GUY FAWKES
http://languageandthecity.tumblr.com/post/34826535793/remember-remember-the-fifth-of-november-guy
Read in Portuguese: DIA de GUY FAWKES
http://languageandthecity.tumblr.com/post/34826535793/remember-remember-the-fifth-of-november-guy
domingo, 3 de novembro de 2013
Ana Mestre, designer portuguesa
As mil e uma vidas da cortiça
por Carla Amaro in
Diário de Noticias Magazine. O que é design nacional é bom
É dela o famoso Puf-Fup e a não menos conhecida Lagarta. O primeiro é um puf que não é mais do que um longo cordão de 2500 esferas de cortiça natural, com dois centímetros e meio de diâmetro cada uma. O outro é um assento, também em cortiça negra, desenhado de modo a poder ser adquirido individualmente ou em módulos e que, encaixados uns nos outros, tomam a forma de uma lagarta ou outra que se queira. Se Ana Mestre tivesse que escolher as duas peças mais icónicas da sua autoria, escolheria estas, por serem as que «melhor permitem uma interação com o utilizador, permitindo que este contribua para o design final da peça.» No caso da Lagarta, «a configuração final depende da forma como se juntam os módulos». O Puf-Fup «pode ter múltiplas formas de assento, conforme a quantidade de voltas que se der ao cordão».
Desde a sua primeira apresentação internacional com o Puf-Fup (em Londres, em 2005, na galeria Viaduct), que as peças de Ana Mestre têm percorrido o mundo, em participações como o Destination Portugal, noMoMA em Nova Iorque, ou o Ano de Portugal no Brasil, na Clark Art Center no Rio de Janeiro. São apenas alguns exemplos, entre dezenas, de exposições com a marca Corque Design, que criou em 2009.
Licenciada em design industrial e com um mestrado em energias renováveis, não é de estranhar que esta designer de 35 anos não conceba um trabalho sem ter em conta «o conceito de "design para a sustentabilidade", que pressupõe um equilíbrio entre os três pilares da sustentabilidade: ambiental, social e económica». Esse equilíbrio encontra-o na cortiça, que utiliza exclusivamente nas peças da Corque Design.
Sendo a matéria-prima que Portugal mais produz e exporta - temos a maior área de sobreiros no mundo, com 736 700 hectares-, para a designer fazia todo o sentido desenvolver produtos portugueses recorrendo a um material que existe em fartura no nosso país e que apresenta um enorme potencial para o design: «A cortiça tem características táteis muito diferentes dos outros materiais, no que toca por exemplo ao aspeto sensorial, à suavidade, leveza e textura. Além disso, é muito fácil de manusear.»
Foram as peças em cortiça que lhe deram fama e reconhecimento, mas é o trabalho de pesquisa e investigação que desenvolve antes de pegar no lápis e no papel que a distingue dos seus pares. «O design é uma resposta às necessidades das pessoas, das indústrias, das empresas, e eu, enquanto designer, faço isso. Mas vou mais atrás no processo de pesquisa, vou à procura de aspectos culturais, sociais e ambientais e tento identificar oportunidades que ainda não estão no mercado para as concretizar, envolvendo também a indústria. Em geral, os designers respondem a briefings, a solicitações do mercado. Eu também, mas não me fico por aí.»
E também não se fica pela cortiça. Além de desenvolver experiências com outros materiais, por exemplo o bioplástico para fazer acessórios, está envolvida no projeto europeu Regio-Crafts, que pretende recuperar as técnicas ancestrais e os materiais tradicionais de cariz regional na Europa, entre os quais, a madeira, as fibras naturais, os têxteis e, claro, a cortiça. «No âmbito deste projeto, que pressupõe a troca de experiências entre países europeus, desenvolvi um banco de madeira, utilizando o desperdício da produção de socas típicas holandesas.» Mais um exemplo da combinação entre as componentes ambiental, social e económica, incontornáveis no seu trabalho, a que se junta, neste caso, uma outra, mais ligada à cultura, porque «um dos objetivos do Regio-Crafts é a recuperação do património do artesanato que se está a perder na Europa, muito por causa da produção industrial.»
por Carla Amaro
Fotografias: Corque Design no Facebook
http://www.dn.pt/revistas/nm/interior.aspx?content_id=3511707
http://www.dn.pt/revistas/nm/interior.aspx?content_id=3511707
Muitos Parabéns, Ana Mestre!
Roman Eagle discovered in London
Archaeologists have discovered an extraordinary 65 cm tall and 55cm wide limestone Roman sculpture representing an eagle grasping a serpent in its beak.
The team of the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) were at first hesitant to announce their discovery and its Roman origins, owing to the fact that it is in an impeccable state of preservation. In the mean while specialists have now confirmed that it is from the 1st or 2nd century AD and also that the statue is one of the very best examples surviving from Roman Britain. Its symbolism is regarded as the struggle of good (the eagle) against evil (the serpent). It is believed the statue might have adorned a rich mausoleum as the theme was common in the funerary context.
The statue was dug up at a site in the City of London which is known once to have been home to a Roman cemetery.
It will be on display at the Museum of London for six months from 30 October 2013.
Londinium (Roman London) was founded in about AD 50 and soon became the centre of administration for the province of Britannia. The Romans built bridges over the river Thames and constructed the roads that connected Londinium with the rest of the country. The population of the city where London now stands was a mix of civilians, families, soldiers, sailors, workers and slaves. Many of them were from all parts of the Roman Empire, but the majority were native Britons. Roman London was abandoned in AD 410.
References:
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/explore-online/pocket-histories/what-was-life-roman-london/further-information/
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/30/world/europe/uk-london-roman-eagle
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/london-wall/whats-on/galleries/roman-london/
Esclarecimento
Na disciplina de Inglês, os alunos podem utilizar e ser portadores de dicionários unilingue e/ou bilingue, conforme as orientações programáticas da respetiva disciplina. Apesar de ter aconselhado os alunos a utilizar em casa o dicionário online da macmillan http://www.macmillandictionary.com/, para melhorarem o vocabulário e aprenderem como se pronunciam algumas palavras, não costumo estimular o seu uso nos testes de inglês.
Os dicionários bilingues, que não apresentam uma contextualização, podem levar os alunos, no momento dos testes, a interpretar o significado das palavras de maneira isolada, resultando assim as suas pesquisas num trabalho desorientado com maus resultados, até em consequência da pressão do tempo. Os dicionários unilingues, por outro lado, conduzem, com muita frequência, os alunos a dispersarem-se e a ficarem preocupados, porque não entendem a explicação da palavra e, variadas vezes, pretendem até recorrer à ajuda do professor, o que não é permitido durante as provas.
Os dicionários bilingues, que não apresentam uma contextualização, podem levar os alunos, no momento dos testes, a interpretar o significado das palavras de maneira isolada, resultando assim as suas pesquisas num trabalho desorientado com maus resultados, até em consequência da pressão do tempo. Os dicionários unilingues, por outro lado, conduzem, com muita frequência, os alunos a dispersarem-se e a ficarem preocupados, porque não entendem a explicação da palavra e, variadas vezes, pretendem até recorrer à ajuda do professor, o que não é permitido durante as provas.
sábado, 2 de novembro de 2013
Are diamonds a girl´s best friend?
“Diamonds are a girl´s best friend” is a song performed by Marilyn Monroe in the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Elizabeth Taylor wearing the Krupp diamond
The Krupp Diamond, named after the Krupp family of German industrialists was a gift of her husband, Richard Burton, who bought it at an auction for $305,000 in 1968. The ring was renamed "Elizabeth Taylor Diamond" and was sold at Christie's in 2011, for $8,818,500.
Blood Diamond is a 2006 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. It is set during the Sierra Leone Civil War in 1996–2001, and shows the atrocities of that war. The title refers to blood diamonds or conflict diamonds, which are diamonds mined in African war zones and sold to finance conflicts, and therefore profit warlords and diamond companies. As a matter of fact blood diamonds have been used to increase violent conflict and human rights abuses and have funded brutal wars in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Côte d’Ivoire that have resulted in the death of millions of people.
India was thought to be the only source of diamonds until the 18th century but they were discovered in South Africa in 1866.These findings sparked a rush of diamond prospectors to the region and led to the opening of the first large-scale mining operation which came to be known as the Kimberly Mine.
As long as there has been a diamond industry, diamond mining has been plagued by smuggling, worker exploitation and violence. Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada, two non-profit groups, took the lead in exposing the problem to the public that rebel groups were seizing control of diamond mining regions and exchanging diamonds for money and weapons. The diamond industry was buying these diamonds and selling them in jewelry stores.
As a response the diamond industry came with a diamond certification scheme called the Kimberley Process(2003) which would evaluate conditions in diamond-producing countries and certify that the diamonds being exported are “conflict free.” Nevertheless, in Africa, close to a million people are artisanal diamond diggers. Almost all of them live in extreme poverty. Child labour is common and working conditions are very often dangerous and de-humanizing.
The majority of today's diamonds come from Africa (65%)
Botswana: $3.3 billion
Angola: $1.5 billion
South Africa: $1.5 billion
Democratic Republic of Congo: $0.7 billion
Namibia: $0.9 billion
Other countries such as Canada, Russia, and Australia also have diamonds.
Ethical diamonds are those that are mined under strict regulations imposed by the governments and cut and polished according to guidelines established by the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices. They are fully traceable, and the larger stones are laser-inscribed.
The film Blood Diamond ends in a conference concerning blood diamonds, precisely the meeting that took place in Kimberley, South Africa in 2000 and led to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which sought to certify the origin of rough diamonds in order to limit the trade of conflict diamonds.
Soon after the release of the film the– World Diamond Council – launched a new web site. diamondfacts.org which claims that the diamond supply is now more than 99% conflict free.
So, as beautiful as it may be, it is best never to spoil your ring with the toil of those who may have been exploited. Be aware of where your ring comes from so that we can stop financing horrible conflicts and appreciate the beauty of diamonds!
quinta-feira, 31 de outubro de 2013
quarta-feira, 30 de outubro de 2013
Portugal – your destination 2014
The Lonely Planet has chosen Portugal as one of the best destinations for 2014, because “when times are tight we suggest you travel more, not less – but pick carefully. This is where your wallet will smile at the memories for years to come.”
Lonely Planet’s best value travel destinations for 2014
"Each year the British Post Office surveys the prices in European holiday resorts. The most recent edition names Albufeira in the Algarve as the cheapest option for a summer family holiday. The Algarve in high summer may not be to everyone’s taste, but it shows that Portugal is great for the budget-conscious. There are excellent deals elsewhere too. Lisbon has wonderful coffee and sweet treats for a few euros, and you can ride cheap trams around to your heart’s content. Portugal is also, for Europeans, a superb place to surf without having to fork out the airfare to the sport’s traditional heartlands"
domingo, 27 de outubro de 2013
Humphrey Bogart’s ‘Casablanca’ car to be sold
The 1940 Buick phaeton driven by Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca will be part of Bonham’s "What Dreams Are Made Of: A Century Movie Magic" auction in New York City on November 25.
This Buick model 81C trunk back convertible Phaeton is one of just 230 made in 1940. It currently shows 42,000 miles on the odometer. The vehicle had a mechanical restoration in the 1990s and is in drivable condition. The original interior shows evidence of water damage and there are burns in the custom-ordered broadcloth, too, but these are reportedly “period correct,” from Humphrey Bogart’s perpetual cigarette.
The car was owned by Warner Brothers until 1970 (it appeared in another Bogart classic, High Sierra) when it was sold to the first of a series of private owners. It was last sold in June 1995 for $211,500, but the Aztec Brown 1940 Buick convertible is estimated to be sold now for $450,000 to $500,000.
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2013/10/22/heres-looking-at-you-kid-1940-buick-phaeton-from-casablanca-to-cross-the-block/#sthash.woXyA8Cv.dpuf
https://www.facebook.com/HumphreyBogartEstate?hc_location=stream
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