Archive for July, 2009
Slang Verbs Posted by Rachel on Jul 22, 2009
Today, we’re going to look at a few slangy verbs that will make you sound much more fluent in basic conversation. The definitions are a bit boiled down, so make sure you look to see how the words are translated in context. 1. rolar – to happen; to go on Acha que a festa da…
New Music: Solana Posted by Rachel on Jul 21, 2009
Solana is a band that hails from Espirito Santo, a small state that borders Rio de Janeiro. Though somewhat obscure, the band has played on the popular Faustao show on Globo and is touring Brazil this month, with an upcoming show in their home state tomorrow night. Light and easy-going, Solana has a smooth and…
New Subspecies of Monkey Discovered in Amazon Posted by Rachel on Jul 20, 2009
Brazilian scientists have announced the discovery of a new subspecies of monkey, the Saguinus fuscicollis mura, discovered in the Amazon. Though it was originally spotted by scientists in 2007, the discovery was just published in the International Journal of Primatology last month. The very small subspecies, which usually weighs just 350 grams and stands 23…
Favorite Brazilian Drink Posted by Rachel on Jul 17, 2009
Brazil has some of the most amazing juices, smoothies, and drinks in the Americas that you can usually get on every street anywhere in the country. By day, there are fresh coconut waters, tropical fruit juices, and açaí smoothies, and by night, the famous caipirinha and hundreds of locally brewed beers. So for today’s interactive…
GM to Invest US$1 Billion in Brazil Posted by Rachel on Jul 16, 2009
Despite the fact that GM declared bankruptcy and is now partially owned by the US government, it will invest US$1 billion to create two new models of cars in Brazil, which will help create 1,000 jobs. The Brazilian government recently reduced taxes on automobiles, which lowered the price of GM cars and led to a…
Grammar Review: Something/Someone Posted by Rachel on Jul 15, 2009
Today we’re going to do a little review of the “some” words in Portuguese. something = algo Você tem algo nos dentes. You have something in your teeth. Ela queria algo mais barato. She wants something cheaper. some = algum/alguma Eles compraram algum tipo de madeira, mas não sei qual. They bought some type of…
Wacky Art Exhibit in Rio de Janeiro Posted by Rachel on Jul 14, 2009
Two Carioca brothers, Tiago and Gabriel Primo, designed an interactive installation exhibit in Rio de Janeiro’s historic downtown. They built a small room on the side of a painted wall 33 feet above the ground, including a bed, table, chair, and hammock. The artists spend twelve hours a day in the room, eating, reading and…