FROM OUT THERE

So what's happening out there? What are the ups? We're waiting to hear from you. Let your views be known. We'll put them right here....yes, here!

We welcome your contributions... you people out there. If you're a happening person, I'm sure others want to know what's happening to you. Let us know. english@lynnandron.com

11-28

Question of the month: if you were staying on an island for a long time, what three CDs would you take with you?

"Elton John - Greatest Hits vol. III, George Michael - Ladies and Gentlemen, and Skank, live in Ouro Preto (not their best but filled with good songs)." Angela


"Choosing my three favorite records is a really difficult task, as I'm a big music admirer and, consequently, have a big CD collection. Well, considering just the ones I own, I would take Chico Buarque's Uma Palavra, Astor Piazzolla's Libertango and The Smiths' Hatful of Hollow.

The first is a collection with new versions of some of Chico's greatest songs. I really love it and I think it represents the best of what this great Brazilian artist has done in his career. The second is also a compilation of Piazolla's classic tunes. In my opinion, the Argentinean is the finest composer ever. Finally, I have liked The Smiths since I was a teenager and Hatful of Hollow shows the band at its best." Angelo

Question of the month of November: why are Atletico Mineiro's enthusiasts so motivated, fanatic at times, if their team has not won a major soccer tournament in more than 30 years?

"I think being a fan is an addiction case! Or what they really love to do is cheer against Cruzeiro. Have you noticed that they commemorate more when 'the fox' loses than when they win?" Angela

"I would like to ask, 'What do cruzeirenses actually feel about their team? What will they do when Cruzeiro stops winning?' For us atleticanos winning is not the reason that justifies our passion, as we like our team as it is, for no rational motive. No matter what the results are, it is better being an atleticano than a cruzeirense.

I think that all cruzeirenses envy us. If God stopped the world and gave everybody a chance to choose a team without shame, I believe every cruzeirense would prefer the black and white striped jerseys instead of the blue and white ones.

Finally, I must point out that I don't agree that Cruzeiro is a victorious team, as it is about to win the first true major tournament in the club's history -- the Brazilian National Championship. Actually, Libertadores and the Brazilian Cup are tournaments played by second level teams from such places as Ecuador, Venezuela, and Peru (remember the 'famous' Sporting Cristal?), in case of the former, and Roraima and Acre, in case of the latter. Cruzeirenses don't say that these competitons are important because they really are not." Angelo

10-28

Who's your hero?

Some of Lynn and Ron's English's students answered the question we posted on the Hot News page. Here are their interesting responses:

"My hero is Sergio Vieira de Melo, the Brazilian who always worked for peace and, unfortunately, died in Iraq." (Angela)

"Well, about my heroes I must say that I don't have any. In the past I used to admire music personalities but, nowadays, even though I still love this art form, I can't say I have a music hero. On second thought, Chico Buarque is my last hero. Another personal hero is Diego Maradona, the former wonder soccer player from Argentina. His qualities as a player were undeniable and despite his life style I always admired his strong character." (Angelo)

"In my opinion there are hundreds of heroes in my country. Heroes are every father and mother who raise their children, giving them good education and moral values, even when they don't have a job, a house, or a family to support them. A hero is everyone who without financial support from a rich family or a good school achieves success, as a result of personal effort. A hero is everyone who is not contaminated by corruption to reach personal goals. A hero is every person who helps poor people just for charity, no self-interest involved. There are hundreds of unknown heroes. Maybe there's one next door and you haven't noticed." (Daniel)


" I think it is difficult to choose one specific hero, because there are so many people who did brave and good things. For example, Jesus Christ taught us the commandments, especially to love and respect the others. I admire what Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King did but they are not my heroes. I would choose my father as my hero because I think he is a great man, with a lot of good characteristics." (Renata)

"My hero is Jesus Christ. There is no one like him. He is unique." (Roniston)

What makes you proud of your city?


Here's the useful information our students provided:

"My favorite place in Belo Horizonte is Liberty Square where we find beautiful gardens." (Angela)

"Regarding what makes me proud of Belo Horizonte, I agree that 'Mercado Central' (Central Market) is a special place. I've been going there since I was a child, as my parents own a grocery store, and I still love to visit it on Saturdays. I'm also proud of my team, the glorious 'Clube Atletico Mineiro', which may not be the best, but is the only one worth cheering for." (Angelo)

"What makes me proud of my city is its tranquility, friendliness, and safety. I am also proud that the most beautiful women in Brazil live here." (Daniel)

"The place that makes me proud of Belo Horizonte is Xapuri because it's exotic and the food is good, although very expensive. I have been going there since 1990 and the best time to have a meal is at night." (Roniston)

08-30-2003 Angelo Santos

Considering the rivalry between Brazil and Argentina it may sound strange for a Brazilian to say this: recent Argentinean films have been excellent and their quality cannot be compared to their Brazilian counterparts. I’ve watched a few of them.

Nueve Reinas (Nine Queens) is an interesting thriller by first time director Fabian Bielinsky, starring Ricardo Darin, Gaston Pauls, and Leticia Bredice. Two petty criminals perpetrate their biggest con. It could have been an ordinary film if it weren’t for the surprising end. The picture, originally released in 2000, was the country’s most successful that year and, according to the press, is getting a Hollywood version, produced by Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney, which demonstrates how good it is.

Then I saw Plata Quemada (Burned Money), another good thriller about two gay thugs who, as part of a gang, rob an armored truck. After the crime all of them escape to Uruguay where they get involved in incredible situations – especially the couple of outlaws – while their faces are plastered on the cover of every paper. Directed by Marcelo Pineyro, with Eduardo Noriega, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Pablo Echarri, and Leticia Bredice, the film has been called Latin America’s Bonnie and Clyde. In my opinion it’s not as good as Nine Queens but is undoubtedly worth watching.

Finally, I must tell you about Kamchatka, an extraordinary drama, also directed by Marcelo Pineyro, and starring Ricardo Darin –- considered today’s best Argentinean actor --, Cecilia Roth (from Pedro Almodovar’s All About My Mother), and Matias Del Pozo, a ten-year-old boy who is the picture’s main character. The story is about the life of a child whose parents are being chased by the dictatorship’s political police. Even though there’s not a single violent scene, tension is all around and the spectator is induced to feel what the boy feels. Thus, we really suffer with the family’s destiny, which is not happy.