A different kind of radio station

by Ronaldo Nazaré
This short post is a suggestion of a classical music radio, the baroque webcast. Note that I am far from being an expert at this type of music. But who cares?

After long days (and nights) of hard work I realized I needed a different booster to my brain. We always do! I have been trying a few strategies to become more productive, such as coffee (obviously, still very important & life is too short to drink cheap coffee), chocolate (I gave up, I am gaining unnecessary weight), those trail mix snacks (expensive to have every day) and music. Do you have any other suggestions?

Let me go straight to the point. This baroque webcast is wonderful. It has absolutely no advertisement. The choices of music are perfect and you never get bored. Moreover, trust me, it helps you with concentration and inspiration; you will have the company of a nice and clever sound. Just turn your computer on and and let it play. Also important, if you like a particular performance, just check your media player where it contains the information about the album, usually at the bottom part. Hence, you also learn from it!

But, if you are an expert on classical music, that is great too. This is a great source. Let me know if you guys like it. I hope you do!

Cheers, Ronaldo.

Check also

Good French music on the web

Brazil in the news: BH in the NYTimes

Straight from California, Ronaldo sends us the link to an interesting article published in the New York Times about the 12,000+ bars you can go to in Belo Horizonte. From the greasy-spoon spots to the very sophisticated pubs, tourists are sure to find one to match their taste!

Of course it would be impossible to come up with a comprehensive list of the best bars in town, so how about lending them a hand and posting here some suggestions of the "not-to-be-missed" places to go? You can use the comments link or send us your post! platypusmail@gmail.com

Check also: Comida de Buteco Food Festival

Belo Horizonte: young at 110

TV family hour: not what it used to be

How much television do you watch? What kind of programmes do you usually watch - sports, soap operas, the news, talk shows? How do you rate the quality of TV programmes in Brazil? A recent study in the U.S. reveals that American families are exposed to more sex and violence on television now than a few years ago. Do you think the same thing happens in Brazil? Should parents control what their kids watch? Here is a listening activity in which people discuss whether or not TV is a good thing.

Welsh writer Roald Dahl (the author of children's books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) wrote this poem about children and television. What is his opinion?

Song: Unforgettable

Terry Fator is a fantastic American ventriloquist from Texas who has just won the contest "America's got talent". What is amazing is that his puppets not only talk and 'act', but they also sing. Here is Terry and his puppet Emma Taylor doing a Nat King (and Natalie) Cole impersonation, singing "Unforgettable". Then click here to try an activity to practise word formation (verbs - adjectives).



Unforgettable, that's what you are
Unforgettable, though near or far
Like a song of love that clings to me
How the thought of you does things to me
Never before has someone been more
Unforgettable in every way
And forever more, that's how you'll stay
That's why, darling, it's incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am unforgettable too

Who are this year's most powerful celebrities?

Forbes magazine has just released its "100 Celebrities" list, with the names of the 100 most powerful - and best paid - celebrities of 2006. The magazine analyzed not only earnings (how much money they've made), but also how often they have been mentioned in the media and on the internet.

Latest artists to make the list include actor Ben Stiller and the cast of ABC's popular series Grey's Anatomy. Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz, however, are off the list.

Watch a video about the results and put the celebrities in the order they are ranked: Johnny Depp, Paris Hilton, Madonna, the Rolling Stones, Tiger Woods, Oprah Winfrey. How much money did each of them make? What kind of celebrities are up, down, or off the list this year? Check your answers here. Then try a grammar activity to practise comparatives and superlatives in English and find out which Brazilian celebrities are listed!

Uakti releases its first DVD

Back in 1978, four musicians from Belo Horizonte (Marco Antônio Guimarães, Artur Andrés, Paulo Santos and Décio Ramos) got together to create Uakti, one of the most respected and creative instrumental groups in the world. Since then, they have released 11 albums as a band and played with artists like Paul Simon, Philip Glass, Milton Nascimento and Maria Bethânia.

But just listening to Uakti is not enough. The musicians make their own instruments using everyday objects such as PVC pipes, rubber bands, whistles and cans, and find musical inspiration everywhere, from table cloths to I Ching, playing classics from Bach to Antônio Carlos Jobim, besides their own material. Uakti is, above all, an audiovisual experience.

Now they're finally releasing their first DVD, recorded in September 2006 in Belo Horizonte. To celebrate, the group will be performing at the Palácio das Artes on April 13 and 14, and that's a great opportunity to see them in action. You can also listen to some of their songs by visiting their website; click on 'discografia' and on the album on the top lefthand corner.

Comida di Buteco food festival

Everybody knows that Belo Horizonte has more 'bars per inhabitant' than any other Brazilian city. Here they are almost an extension of our own homes, so it's not really surprising to see that the Comida di Buteco food festival - now on its 8th edition - is a huge success.

41 bars participate this year, each presenting one special dish to be evaluated and voted by the public. The bars will also be graded on their hygiene, quality of service and 'coldest beer'. For the second time, the exhibition Arte no Banheiro ("Art in the Restroom") invites local artists to turn the restrooms into art galleries, with prizes for the best works of art. And musicians, actors and magicians will take turns entertaining the guests, going from bar to bar on different nights.

The festival goes from April 9 until May 9, with the "Festa da Saideira" (the "One-For-The- Road Party") taking place at Casa do Conde between 17-20 May, when the results will be announced.

Have you ever been to the festival? Check the bars and their menus; which food would you like to try? Leave us your comment!

Check also:
Belo Horizonte: the city of bars
Belo Horizonte: young at 110