Who is the Brazilian teenager? He/she is passionate and apathetic,
abstemious and drug-addicted, criminal and compassionate. Their numbers are growing faster
than any other age bracket. They will soon be Brazil’s movers and shakers.
By Brazzil Magazine
I have just read with great interest Kathryn Gallant’s article "Nevermore?",
about the torture, imprisonment and disappearance of Brazilian citizens. It is absolutely
imperative that I get in touch with her as soon as possible, as my husband and I have been
searching for his father for some time now, and he has the same name as one of the men on
the list of 13 leftists who were imprisoned and died there, possibly tortured to death.
This is an urgent matter, as my husband’s father would be approximately 71 years old if he
is still alive, and time may be running out. If he has died, we need to know. Please
answer! We are desperate.
P.S. The man we are trying to locate is Milton Chester DeCastro (or de Castro), son of
Chester and Ophelia Decastro, brother of Lisenko and cousin of Geraldo.
Lisa Brown
Hudson, New Hampshire
Matter of
Credit
I love Brazzil magazine and I am proud to have published a few articles there.
But on occasion some of your writers need to learn about proper "attribution."
The most flagrant example I’ve seen of this was Kirsten Weinoldt’s recent piece
"1968: For Ever," which copied material out of one of my books. It did list
several sources at the end, but almost the entire middle sectionthe Geraldo Dias and
Chico Buarque parts especiallywas lifted word for word from the first edition of my
book The Brazilian Sound. There is so much copied, in fact, that it would have been
fair to give me a byline on the article. This is plagiarism, even if there is a mention of
my book at the end of her article. Any material lifted verbatim from another source must
be clearly credited.
Chris McGowan
Los Angeles, California
The author
replies
Dear Chris McGowan,
Ever since someone recommended your book The Brazilian Sound, I’ve been a big
fan of it and referred to it so many times, it’s now dog-eared and worn. Therefore, when I
took on the task of writing about 1968, I was delighted to see some things about Geraldo
Vandré and Chico Buarque I didn’t know. I used it, and in my enthusiasm I didn’t realize
that so much was verbatim. I just love this book and was happy to find what I needed. I am
really sorry about that. Sincerely,
Kirsten Weinoldt
West Boylston, Massachusetts
Not Black and
Not White
I really love your publication, but I have a request from all Brazilians who read it:
Do not copy the racist thinking of Americans! There is no such thing as a "White
Brazilian or Black Brazilian." We are all beautiful Brazilians and must not separate
and copy the pitiful example of hatred that exists here in the USA. We are special people
that show the world that it is possible for all colors to be one people! We will not hate
as Americans do! Long live the culture and people of Brazil!
AJ Brown
Washington DC
Brazzil Is
All Yours
I would like to request your consideration regarding two matters:
1) I am leading an effort in Indianapolis Indiana to create a
"Brazil-focused" educational opportunity for school children. I also hope to
involve an already targeted high school, which is predominantly African American in my
Brazil-awareness campaign. I would like to request your permission to reprint copies of
the information I found at http://www.brazil-brasil.com/cvroct95.htm to be distributed
among students for the purpose of generating discussion.
2) I have established a very Afro-Brazilian-focused Web site at
http://www.iei.net/~pwagner/gooddeeds/index.html and would like to include the same
material-clearly crediting Brazzil and including your own main site Web address in
a new gallery there.
Phillip Wagner
Indianapolis, Indiana
Pining
for Rio
I recently came upon information about your publication in The Writer (October
1998 issue). Hooray! I am a freelance writer. I spent two years in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
as a child (7-9 years old), which was back in 1954-1955. I went to Curso Toneleros where I
became the "No. 1" student at the end of my first grade, and all during the
second grade, until my family moved to the United States. My school was on Avenida
Princesa Isabel, a few blocks from where I lived and also a few blocks from the Copacabana
Beach. I have picturesand memoriesand an idea for one or two pieces, which I
will submit after I "study" your magazine.
But the story I really want to write someday will be of my return to Rio. Haven’t been
back since, although I have traveled to other parts of the world. Earlier this year I was
in Lagos, Portugal-where I observed the wavy mosaic sidewalks, the
"zh-sh-ch-ão" sounds of the Portuguese languageand had a hankering to be
in the Rio of my childhood. And in Lisbon they even have a "Corcovado" there!
Olga Bourlin
Via Internet
Thanks for
Virgínia
Thanks again to Bruce Gilman for another well written and informative piece, this time
the interview with Virgínia Rodrigues. I was lucky enough to find the CD with the "I
Want to Be Ready" number on it. Truly a wonderful first CD. The critics have not
exaggerated Virginia’s talent.
Fred Dobb, Ph.D.
California Department of Education
Sacramento, California
Permission
Granted
Congratulations to Bruce Gilman on a great article on Villa-Lobos’s quartets! The
editor of Pauta, Mexico’s main musical quarterly would very much like to translate
and publish it with all the due credits. He asked me to get your permission to do so.
Aron Bitran, Via Internet
Cuarteto Latinoamericano
Class
Material
I loved to know Brazzil magazine! The articles in English give us the chance to
use them in English classes. Maybe these are some good ideas for you as a promotion of the
magazine in Brazil: tourist agencies and the distribution of the magazine to flight
companies so they can offer it to their passengers.
Marisa Riguetto
Via Internet
It’s all for
the Taking
I have just come across Brazzil and as it is the only English source I can find
on Brazil, I was interested in the contents. I am particularly interested in the political
and economic situation, but I cannot find any way of getting this info from any of the
prompts/icons. Is it me who is messing up, or is there some limitation to how much info is
disseminated?
Julie Marlow
Via Internet
United Kingdom
Americans and
Americana
I’m a Brazilian expatriate living in Israel since 1968 and I’m a history buff. I’m very
interested in knowing something about the immigration of Southern families to the then
Empire of Brazil, after the Civil War. I know they went to São Paulo (Americana and Santa
Bárbara do Oeste) and to the Amazon area. Could you help me find something about the
subject? Or indicate someone or some University in Brazil or in the USA to guide me in
this search? I saw your Web page in the internetby the way very well done, specially
about the hints to an American newcomer and I thought I could ask your help in this
attempt.
Carlos Lefevre
Kibbutz Lahav
No Globo
in English?
I’m looking for O Globo in English on the Web. If you can tell me how I can find
it, I would be eternally grateful! O Globo doesn’t offer a choice of English or
Portuguese on their Website! (I couldn’t believe it!) So if you can tell me if you know of
a site that has the translation of O Globo or of any other Brazilian daily or
"good" weekly newspaper in English, I would really appreciate it.
Farfalotis Bung
New York
Refugees
I am doing a paper on refugees for school and I was wondering what Brazilians think
about refugees. Do you have any refugees? Do you like having refugees coming from other
places? Have you had problems with refugees in the past? I would greatly appreciate it if
you could send me any information on that by Sunday."
Via Internet
California
Looking for
Contact
I would like to know more about the Brazilian culture as well as the language. I am a
Portuguese student and I would like to communicate back and forth with someone who is
willing to help me in my quest to learning about Brazil. I plan to visit Brazil soon.
Adisa King
US Military Academy
West Point, New York
Ideas
Swapping
I’m a 31-year-old architect. I live in Fortaleza City and I would like to go to Canada.
I work with Urbanism and Architecture (projects). I would like to study in Canada. I know
AutoCAD, Corel Draw, Office, and a little about Graphic Computer. I would like to exchange
new experiences with Canadians.
Paulo Rocha Aguiar Júnior
pj@secrel.com.br
Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
Required
Reading
Although I realize Brazzil is mostly in English, I felt that if my students subscribed
to it, they would get some good insights into Brazilian culture at home and abroad.
Alison
Via Internet
Brazzil
and Brasília
I live in Brasília and I maintain a Website about the history of the city
(www.infobrasilia.com.br/history.htm ). I just found your article dealing with Lúcio
Costa, the architect of Brasília. I would like to know if the text will be permanently on
that URL. If so, I will put a link to it. However, if it is a temporary URL, I would like
permission to copy the text and use it on my Website, with full credits, of course.
Augusto C. B. Areal
Brasília, Brazil
Criticizing
Criticism
I just want to comment on Ana Maria Bahiana’s answers to some of your questions. I do
agree that Americans do have their problems just like all countries, but instead of
criticizing we should try to understand each other and try to learn each other’s culture
better. I am a student who has gone back to school to further my education. There are a
lot of people who do not criticize other cultures, but want to learn more about them like
myself.
Michelle Baker
Pace, Florida
Brazil
Scholar
Please subscribe me. I am a professor of Portuguese, Spanish and French at RWU and I do
need a lot of material about Brazil.
Beatriz Hoffius
Bristol, Rhode Island
Land
Charmed
I have been so preoccupied with Tropicalia lately, I need to know more. Plus I’d like
to create something of a primer for the readers of Mommy and I Are One. Is it
possible to get the Dec 97 back issue with Tropicalia cover story? And yes I am interested
in a sample issue and possible subscription. I am not Brazilian but I just can’t seem to
figure out my fascination for the culture, and, if I knew more about it, my affinity for
it. This past year, I have been seriously considering a trip there.
Christian Bruno
San Francisco, California
Our Man
in Rio
Dear Brazzilinhos, let me introduce myself. I am an Australian living in Rio (2.5
years), with my Brazilian wife. My principal work is in selling Australian wine, but I
also do some work in Information Technology. When I arrived in Rio, I kept a monthly diary
of my "adventures" (appropriately called `Postcards from Rio’), an excerpt of
which I have attached. I am not sure if it is of interest to your readers, but please have
a read, and let me know what you think. Past feedback from readers in OZ/Brazil/USA has
been encouraging. I have tried to keep it light, entertaining, factual, but also focussed
on the positive things in Brazil (but with reference to some of things that have not gone
so well, for example TELERJ!). If you find this of interest, then many more editions of
"Postcards from Rio" might follow.
John Miller
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Cool &
Colorful
I was just surfing around on the net when I came up onto your Brazil on My Mind cool
homepage. You have done a very good job. I really enjoyed how you laid out your graphics
and your use of color. There are so many bad sites out on the Internet that is a true joy
to surf up to a really nice one like yours! I liked the links that you had chosen as well
as the actual content of your own homepage as well. Keep up the good work, it is
appreciated!
I am the webmaster of WD9GNG’s German/American homepage. I have been trying to get out
and look at as many homepages as I can in order to see what other folks are doing. You
have given me some good ideas on how a good site should be laid out!
Ken Wigger
Germany
I Want My
Brazzil
I read my sample issue and I love your magazine. Please accept my subscription. My
check is in this morning’s post.
Michael Herrmann
Tonawanda, New York
F in
Behavior
You have a wonderful and useful site but a very ill-behaved one. I hope you will
quickly correct the problem. I normally use Netscape 4.x with Java and Java script turned
off. When I try to access brazzil.com in that condition, I get an illegal operations error
message and you totally crash my browser, leaving me back on my desktop and having to
start over. I normally have 6 or 8 browser windows open at a time and it crashes all of
them.
I have tested this several times to confirm it. If I turn Java & Java script
"on" then I can access the site without any problem. If I have Java turned off
(as is my normal condition) and come here: fatal error message and total browser crash.
I am not the only person in the world who has Java normally turned off. Many of them
would not be sufficiently techno to figure out what was happening. All they would know is
that every time they try to access your site their browser crashes. Not exactly the best
way to add to your hit totals and popularity! 🙂 And, when I refer friends of mine to your
site I always have to remember to caution them about having Java turned on. Hope you can
solve this quickly.
Bill
Via Internet
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