Rancharia is 1 of 49 special projects in the state of Bahia
supporting 2,250 families. The majority of land
is worked communally. Personal responsibility
is reinforced by requiring each family to finance
their own portion of the land through repayment of low interest
government loans over a 20-year period.
By Brazzil Magazine
I was shocked at reading Mr. Ricardo C. Amaral’s article "Overpopulated". Mr.
Amaral wrote that in 1500 the Brazilian population was 0 (zero). Reading that, only one
thing instantly crossed my mind: I’d like to ask all the Brazilian Indians for their
forgiveness, since Mr. Amaral’s sources weren’t very trustful indeed. What a shame and an
unforgivable mistake!
Wilson Loria
New York, New York
What a Genius!
Ricardo Amaral writes in "Overpopulated" that "the Brazilian government
should put in place a policy to reduce its population from its current 170 million people
to a target of 100 million people by a certain attainable date."
What an innovative idea! But one thing: How, Ricardo? Have you given the idea any
thought at all, or are you just another armchair intellectual talking out your ass. I
agree that overpopulation is a huge problem globally, but what’s the use of your article
if it proposes no solutions? It’s just a waste of space and a waste of time to read it.
It’s too bad drivel like this gets published when other more vital voices are not being
heard. Next time, develop a thesis before you start writing.
Peter Castles
Via Internet
Way Too Many
Dear Mr. Amaral, you wrote a courageous article. Brazil and the US are heading for big
trouble. The USA has avoided much due to an economy that appears to be sound. Let there be
an economic downturn and I can assure you the USA will surely need a thousand new prisons.
As you are well aware, during 1996 the current administration waived the FBI background
check to hustle through thousands upon thousands of new citizens. A political motive was
suggested in a recent Los Angeles Times article.
This was an exceptionally pertinent point: "Today some people wonder why there is
so much crime in Brazil and why its civil system is breaking down. People look for
simplistic answers to the problems. They consider drugs, or something else, as the reason
for the breakdown. However, the obvious reason (population explosion) is never understood
as being the cause of the problems."
Cardoso and Clinton blame the guns. It is not the guns. It is not the dope, it is just
as you have indicated. Politicians play the people, they use the people for their own
power. Who will be as brave as you in the political arena of both nations in addressing
this 21st century Rubicon? May God help us all.
Cici da Costa
Via Internet
Finally, a Family Rag
Thank you for not including pornographic pictures or articles in your last issue. I
feel free now to send Brazzil to many of my friends and acquaintances.
Ms Brandon
Via Internet
Looking for
I am a reporter in the United States. I work for NBC News. Am urgently trying to find
Miss Elma Lia Nascimento who wrote an article for Brazzil in 1995 titled
"Praise the Lord and Pass the Catch-up." Do you know her telephone number by any
chance or where I can find her? I would appreciate any help you can give me.
Victor Arango
NBC, USA
A Little Difference
In reference to the president’s bastard son article, it’s not that the Brazilian media
is ethical or respectful….it’s a cultural matter. Unlike the US, Brazilians are not in
the custom of telling other people how they should live their private lives. They elect
the average men to be presidents not popes. They are not expected to be saints or moral
role models. Brazilian are not naives or hypocrites about human weaknesses. They are more
concerned about corruption because it affects all of them. Americans are more concerned
about their president’s private lives than they are about their religious leaders’
behavior.
Rudy
Via Internet
Keeping Current
For the last four years I have enjoyed your magazine and I don’t want to miss a single
issue. So I’m extending my subscription for two years. I have kept contact with many
friends in Brazil, especially in Paraná, São Paulo and Minas. My friends are surprised
I’m up-to-date with the Brazilian situation and sometimes I do get ahead of them about
certain happenings in their country. I was made an honorary citizen of Brazil and I
treasure this honor very dearly. I will be solemnizing the wedding of one of my students
in Campinas, se Deus quiser in December. More power to you.
Priest Mike
River Grove, Illinois
The Bad, the Good, the Free
I just read your "Too Rich, Too Poor" article. It’s very sad indeed to read
about so much poverty and lack of health care. I went home for a visit in April and May
and was saddened to see favelas sprouting by the roadside in Rio Grande do Sul.
However, I have a good story to tell. I have a ranch there and I hired a young couple to
care for it. Last February, the gentleman, otherwise a healthy 32-year-old man, became
very ill with ruptured appendix. For some reason they did not treat him at our small local
hospital, but sent him to Porto Alegre, 44 miles away. There he was admitted to Hospital
de Clínicas.
He received excellent care, he only has good things to say about the doctors and the
nurses. He recovered quickly. When he was discharged, a nurse came several times to change
his bandages. All of this did not cost him or me one cent. Besides, he received one or two
minimum salaries. I imagine that was to compensate for supposed lost income. Of course, I
paid 100% of their salary. When I arrived there on April 1st, he was as healthy
as before and working hard.
My sister had a serious back surgery a year before in the Hospital de Clínicas. It did
not cost her anything either. I was very happy to hear about that. No, these people are
not poor, they are doing quite well. If I ever get sick, I will certainly go to Hospital
de Clínicas in Porto Alegre, as I don’t have health coverage here in the US. It is also
less expensive to fly there than to have a few test here.
Geoniora G. Oliveira
Fountain Valley, California
Sudden Attraction
I often come to this website for information as I have found it very interesting, and I
am suddenly much more attracted to Brazil and Brazilian Portuguese. I was also wondering
how can I find information on Americans visiting or even working in Brazil. Also, are
there any great racial problems in Brazil?
Nadine Carr
Hampton, Virginia
Spending Habits
I’m doing a research on the consumer behavior of Brazilians living out of Brazil. You
mentioned in your article "Go North, Young Man" the author José Carlos Sebe Bom
Meihy and his book Brazil Out of Itself. Do you know if it is already available ?
Will it be released in English or Portuguese?
Other question you may help me: Is there any place I may find a research about this
consumer behavior? Like,
a) what’s the percentage they save and spend?
b) on spending, how much (percent and US$) they spend on Brazilian products?
c) how they acquire Brazilian products?
d) which kind of Brazilian product they buy?
Jefferson Tong
tong_jefferson@bah.com
Retying the Knot
I married my Brazilian wife, Elisa, in Santos in 1967. Now she is an ex-wife. I’d like
to find her and marry her again. She was born in Crato in 1947. I don’t know how to find
her. Do you have any suggestions?
Larry McGrail
larry_mcgrail@hotmail.com
Phoenix, Arizona
A Steal
I would like to renew my subscription to your excellent magazine. Enclosed is my
payment of $3. This is the greatest pechincha (bargain) in the world of journalism.
Samuel Cohn
Austin, Texas
One to Go
I am a Swedish nurse who works in a favela in the suburbs of Salvador. I’ve been
here for a year and I have at least one more year to go in this amazing country. I want to
have a free copy to see what it is and hopefully contribute with an article later on.
Erik Gustavsson
Salvador, Bahia
Social Mores
I live in Australia and I was wondering if you would be able to help me as I am
studying socializing in Brazil. I was wondering if you would be able to answer these few
questions for me. Do you think it is acceptable to turn up unannounced at somebody’s home
in Brazil? Do you feel the need to dress up before visiting somebody’s house? Do
Brazilians visit each other often? When a guest is at your house would you ever say
"help yourself" to food or drink or would you always get it for them? Is it
acceptable to take a friend to a party even if he is not invited by the host?
What would you classify an informal visit in Brazil? What would you classify a formal
visit?
Amie Paroissien
double_dottie@hotmail.com
Australia
SASE
Oi gente. This is probably not the place to ask a question, but…. I thought
someone in your offices might be able to help me out. I am a graduate student doing
research on Brazil. As part of my work, I need to request materials from various Brazilian
government and NGO sources. With my request for materials, I would like to send along the
appropriate postage for the requested items to arrive in the US, but I have no idea where
one might be able to secure Brazilian stamps. Any clue?
Mark Setzler
msetzler@mail.la.utexas.edu
Tell Me More
Wow, never saw an all too well organized site about Brazil’s northeast. Very nice
account. Now, tell me how did you manage to do something so good. Who are you guys?
Mark
Via Internet
I would like the sample copy because we will soon be ordering magazines for an influx
of Brazilian people in our area. Thank you.
William Sweeney, Reference Librarian
Worcester Public Library
Worcester, Massachusetts
Promoting Suba
Bruce, congratulations for your article/essay on Suba. You wrote a great piece. I’m
very impressed with Suba’s "São Paulo Confessions". Now that I know more about
him thanks to you, my admiration for this musician has grown higher. I would like to know
if his CD Dreambird and his other creations are available somehow. And also I would
like to ask you for permission for translating, if not the whole, some parts of your
article into Spanish. I have a section in a cultural website called Andala
(www.andala.com).
My section is called d-brazil and I intend to give reviews of recent releases and info
on everything related to Brazilian music. (You’ll find there only a couple of reviews on
João Gilberto. I’m presently working on increasing the contents, but I’m doing all the
work by myself writing the texts, scanning, surfing the net for info, reading my Saudades
do Brasil e-mails, and so on. Above all, I’ve no financial support.) I don’t know if
translating your article is possible, maybe the copyright belongs to Brazzil, I
know nothing about these legal aspects. If, like I say, this isn’t possible, I’d like to
know if I could use it as a guide to my own review.
Carlos Marín de Miguel
Valencia, Spain
Re: Choro, Inc
Daniella Thompson, I thought your interviews were the most interesting that came out,
of all articles written about Acari. It’s very hard to find a Brazilian journalist who
will think of questions so straight to the point as you did, and besides that, having so
much background knowledge of Brazilian music and culture. I was sincerely impressed.
Anna Paes Carrilho
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Best
Daniella, I was very pleased with the article you wrote. I found the piece
excellent—the best yet written about Acari Records. In fact, Daniella, it’s really
good to have a friend like you, and choro thanks you for all the help you’ve given.
Luciana Rabello
Acari Records
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Blackout Reaction
I’m a PhD student at Montreal university. I search some information on São Paulo big
blackout, which happened a few years ago. I need especially information on public response
in this power failure (crime, panic, altruism and humanitarian behavior). Can you help me
?
Frederic Lemieux
Criminology school
Montreal University, Canada
Brazil Fan
I live in the Atlanta, Georgia area and was wondering if your magazine is available
anywhere in the area or if I can subscribe to it? I am an American, but married to a
Brazilian and love Brazil. The Brazilian community in Atlanta seems relatively small, but
I think it is growing rapidly due to the booming Atlanta economy.
Sean Riley
Atlanta, Georgia
On Brown
Bruce, thank you for your text about Carlinhos Brown. You have said many things that I
would like to say to some English (and from other nationalities as well) friends here who
enjoyed Carlinhos’ songs since I first played it for them.
Alexander Lattaruli Stender
London, England
Doing It Rough
I and another guy are planning a trip to Manaus to go up the Amazon for about seven
days. Do you know anyone in Brazil that would be a good guide to take us into the rain
forest? I’m trying to avoid the commercial tour operators. I’d much rather go with someone
recommended. We’re looking to do a no luxuries extreme type of trip. Maybe just a tent and
sleeping bag.
Jeff
Via Internet
All Brazilian
I love almost everything Brazilian, especially music. Please send me some info on what
may be going on in Orlando. Also, I have a children’s clothing label and I’m looking for
manufacturing. If you have any knowledge of potential clothing manufacturers in Brazil
please email me at devoni@aol.com.
A. Yuseff
Orlando, Florida
Good Picks
Hi, Bruce Gilman, I’m an Australian composer/songwriter. Recently I spent five months
traveling through Brazil and I met a lot of interesting musicians and composers in Ceará,
Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia, Brasília, Minas Gerais, etc… I’ve enjoyed reading your
stuff. You pick good subjects and write well about them. Great interview with Jaques
Morelenbaum. A truly inspired musician.
Andrew Yencken
Australia
Dream No More
I’ve been reading the on-line version of Brazzil since my return from Brazil in
March. However, I would like to subscribe to the paper and ink version. I’d dreamt of
going to Brazil for over 20 years and had just about given up on it when out of nowhere
I’m on a plane to São Paulo. It’s changed my life for the better, I want to continue
building on that.
Tope Oluwole
Via Internet
Europe? Not Yet.
I read your article about Chico Cesar, really interesting and accurate. I live in the
Netherlands and would like to know whether your magazine is also available in Europe.
Denis Turmel
Netherlands
An Appeal from Africa
I am a teacher at a secondary school in Tunisia (Africa). I teach English. What pushed
me to write to your company are the obstacles I am getting to help my students (advanced
and intermediate levels )excel at English due to the lack of any references written in
English. Is it possible to help me as well as my students by sending me some magazines as
a donation?
Messaoudi Makram
Tunisia, North Africa
Brazil Bound
Theatre in Exile is a Canadian (Toronto) theatre company dealing with serious issues of
a social and political nature. At some point we would like to submit articles, however, at
this time we are looking to relocate in Brazil and are requesting your direction in
locating the resources (universities, theatre companies, contacts, etc) to make this
possible. If you can assist in this matter in any small way, it would be greatly
appreciated.
Mary Ellen
Theatre in Exile
Toronto, Canada
Mom’s Recipe
When I was last in Bahia my fiancée, Dani, and I stopped at a vendor in one of the
local malls. She purchased for me a treat that I immediately recognized. I told her, with
a broad smile "this is the fudge my mother used to make when I was a child"!
Dani said "Oh no; I’ve seen your fudge in the United States and it’s much
different". I had to explain that in recent years fudge in the United States had
indeed changed. Now it’s very creamy, full of nuts and comes in many flavors: maple,
vanilla, pecan, etc. But I remembered this simple confection, and the appearance of it
gave me saudades for such a simple unassuming pleasure. When I returned home I
wrote to my mother and related my experience to her. She sent me the recipe, and I thought
you might like to have it.
MOTHER WAGNER’S BRAZILIAN FUDGE
Ingredients:
2/3 cup powdered cocoa
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup of butter
3 cups sugar
1 and 1/2 cup of milk – not cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions:
Combine the cocoa, sugar, and salt in a large "sauce" pan (3 quart size, if
you have it). Add the milk gradually and mix well. Bring the mixture to a bubbly boil on
high heat, stirring constantly. NOW, reduce heat to medium and continue to boil the
mixture without stirring until it reaches a temperature of 232 degrees Fahrenheit or, as
we used to determine the appropriate time, when a small amount of mixture dropped into a
cup of cold water forms a soft "ball".
It can be a little tricky to "get the hang" of judging this, but after a
couple of trials you’ll get the idea :)). In fact, you may have to test this more then
once even when you understand what you’re doing. Then immediately remove the pan from the
heat.
Now add the 1/4 cup of butter and the teaspoon of vanilla to the mixture in the pan.
Leave it alone for three minutes. Then use a wooden spoon to beat the mixture well. The
mixture should begin to become less shiny and start to thicken. QUICKLY (because the
transformation can happen with surprising speed) pour the mixture into a flat square pan
that has been lightly coated on the bottom and all sides with butter, and spread the fudge
evenly. When the fudge is set, cut it into squares.
This recipe will produce about 3 dozen pieces of fudge, depending on the size of the
pan. If the fudge doesn’t set up well at first, reheat the mixture and cook another five
minutes. Then beat the mixture again with the wooden spoon and repeat the "pour into
the pan and spread" process.
Phillip Wagner
Via Internet
Mercedes Shopping
I’m from Australia and I’m looking for the homepage address for the spare part supplier
in Brazil that exports Mercedes Benz spare parts, such as clutches, and so on. Would you
mind giving me some direction in which part I have to go and find it by myself?
Felicia Chang
valveday@one.net.au
Portuguese Spoken Here
Sou professora de português e tenho um site de português para estrangeiros que já
pode ser acessado (http://www.sonia-portuguese.com/).
Estou recomendando Brazzil no meu site e gostaria de saber se você também poderia
recomendar meu site de português como língua estrangeira no seu site.
Sonia
Via Internet
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