Letters

Dreadful
All Over

First of all, I would like to tell you guys that your layout is terrible. You can still do good stuff in a black and white edition. Hire a better graphic designer. One example is that terrible and deceiving article on Antônio Carlos Magalhães. The title in black over the black and white picture is almost unreadable (even though the title is not worth reading).

I'm also writing to express my indignity (sic!) with that same article. Alessandra Dalevi should at least have done some research about the Brazilian political history, before writing that stupid article. Of course she can admire ACM, but as a professional she should focus on telling the truth and not participating in such farce. I suggest you to read more, Mrs. Dalevi. The books from Thomas Skidmore would be a good. Maybe next time you do a better job.

Andréa Augusto
Via Internet

Pathetic
You

By the writing of your article on Brazil's Indians you have just admitted three things:

1. You have never been in the Amazon forest or met with any Indians who live there.

2. You are extremely uneducated in the field of anthropology.

3. You are a sad, pathetic man who, since his own world is shit, wants to destroy the world of others since they might have a better one.

Robert Farnsworth
Via Internet

Brazil
Lesson

I would just like to say that I saw the movie Central Station and immediately had the urge to find out everything I could about Brazil. I've been browsing the Internet the whole day and then came across your Website. What a find! The articles are fantastic. I've been reading all your back issues. The economics and culture of Brazil are amazing. I've learnt so much. Keep up the good work!

Aruana Zeelie
Cape Town, South Africa

Brazzil
Will Do

I'm very proud to be a subscriber for the Brazzil Magazine. I like it very much, the articles are very well written and with a very cultural content. It's amazing how you guys are carrying on with this magazine for so long time and just with volunteer help (I think). My subscription finishes this month and I need to know how to fill out the check, in order of whom? I'm leaving for vacation next week, so how late can I mail you the check?

Marcos Marcancola
Via Internet

Personal
Note

Dear Ms. Daniella Thompson,

Just read your article "Rio When It Drizzles" in the June issue of Brazzil. It left me with that funny up/downy feeling you get when some friend mentions the name of an old love. Ah... I, too, was an honorary Carioca for 11 glorious years; from my innocent 20 years to a very knowledgeable 31. The Golden Years, the Cariocas call it now—from the last years of Getúlio's dictatorship to Castelo Branco's uncertain government. That's when the family said, "Enough." We left Brazil to start life anew in Canada, Brazil's economy being what it was at that time. But one never forgets. Your humorous yet so keen observations of things Carioca, with all their foibles and fallacies, really hit the nail on the head! The Santa Tereza part I relished most, as that section of the city holds a special tenderness in my memories—a certain someone used to live there. Anyway, I am just comfortably retired in Los Angeles and I think it's high time for another look at Brazil and helping celebrate the year 2000 there. This e-mail is expressly to thank you for evoking those many ghosts that still linger faithfully after all these years.

Bless you for sharing your love for that impossible and frustrating Cidade Maravilhosa. It really is! But don't ask me to explain it. You do it so darn well. Another soul lost in exile,

Alberto DeMello
Los Angeles, CA

Personal
Note 2

Bom dia, seu David De Hilster. I just finished reading your article, "Samba Web," in the April issue of Brazzil magazine. (And I'm so sorry for myself to have to procrastinate to read it until now...!)

I think you did a wonderful job on both establishing the Samba Web as well as reviving your experience in your article. I am so proud of you and your job. As I was reading it, I can almost feel the shiver, thrill, and even the air temperature (and your sweat!) that you must have experienced.

It was great. As I am a fairly new local student (and a sambista-wannabe) in San Francisco, both financially (and my limited talent-wise) struggling to learn Brazilian percussion and dance, your article was a great inspiration to me. I wish, from the bottom of my heart, that I could join the Rio 2000 Carnaval... But at this point, it doesn't seem realistic financially....

David, please, please, pleeeease, come up with another article when the big thing is over, will you promise? Anyway, it's good to know that someone as enthusiastic as I am does exist. If you ever come to visit here in San Francisco, please call me. I'll be more than delighted to meet you.

Muito obrigada! With a ton of respect,

Yoko Balsiger
San Francisco, California

Personal
Note 3

Hello, Bruce Gilman. You've played a large part in my appreciation of Brazilian music through your writing. Thanks for helping me discover this amazing music and country.

Erin Flanagan
Via Internet

Personal
Note 4

Dear Bruce Gilman, my compliments on an excellent article on Hélio Alves in Brazzil. I've been debating on whether to buy the CD as I'm trying (unsuccessfully) to cut back on my buying. But your article convinced me that I need to get this one. I worked with Nilson last night and gave him my copy of the magazine as the article has a lot of nice things to say about him. All the best,

Joe Carter
Via Internet

We Make
Mistakes

It has come to my attention that your article on Barão de Itararé starts by a historical flaw: the anecdote about the medical examination which ends with the totally bald patient actually happened not to Torelly but to Francisco de Paula Ney, one of the most brilliant Brazilian intellectuals of the 19th century.

Mario d'Alcantara
Via Internet

Family
Roots

I am trying to locate the web address of the Rio de Janeiro telephone directory. I have used the following web address to locate many relatives in São Paulo: http://www.telesp.com.br/scripts/ehttcp.exe?/computer:ehps2:7060+telespin.ehtclass+EH102

I saw on your Website that Rio also had such a web address but I was unable to locate it. I have been researching this family, Demaret, originally of St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, for over 30 years. In that time I have documented over 5,000 descendants of this family. And just last year I was able to locate those relatives who left the U.S. for Brazil after the Civil War. I have just recently translated my Demaret Family Book into Portuguese and plan to distribute copies to each family member at the Confederado reunion in Americana next April. That should be an interesting story in itself. Thank you for your cooperation and assistance. Abraços,

Robert Hicks
Austin, Texas

Disarming
Rio

I'm a freelance journalist. I was in Brazil recently, where I was covering a story about a disarmament campaign in Rio de Janeiro organized by a group called Viva Rio. The story appeared in the San Francisco Bay Guardian a few weeks ago, but I was wondering if you might be interested in including it on your Website. I also have access to some great photographs of the campaign which were taken by a friend of mine who is a professional photographer. Do let me know if you are interested and many thanks,

Robin Pagnamenta
San Francisco, California

Need
Filled

Thank you so much for your web site. I am a "Brazil Lover" and this site fills the need for news and information about this beautiful country, Brazil. I was pleased to be able to read Brazilian newspapers, to see news in a Brazilian's eye. Again thank you so much.

Dr. Richard Langford
Via Internet

Bookmarking
Brazzil

Thank you! As a Brazilian who lives in Israel and misses Brazil a loooot I congratulate you guys for your good work. I liked your articles very much especially the one about Senna. I will keep you in my bookmarks. Obrigada e tchau!

Gizel Maimon
Jerusalem, Israel

Of Verses and
Vinicius

I would like to congratulate you for Brazzil, I really love it. I would have liked to see more poems by Vinicius de Moraes and the opportunity to listen to him reading his own poems. I would also like to ask you something. I am going to publish my own personal Website and I intend to put a Poem of Vinicius called "Absence"... Sorry but I do not know the original title. I'd like to know whether I can do that and whether I can translate it into English by myself. I'd really like to. So I'd like to have some info on eventual copyrights.

Tommaso Banfi
Milan, Italy

Some
Doubts

I recently gave donations to Madera Wood International. I also bought some herbs, which I'm still waiting for. I want to know from a different source if they (Madera) are real and if they really operate a herbal and real authentic Amazon Indian hand made wooden products like birds and fish as well as blow guns. Is this company really giving back 25% of the profits back to the Indians that still live in the rain forest? They say they are a family-run business since 1961. If that's true I will support this small but interesting company that operates out of the rain forest. They also sell parcels of land in Brazil to the public so that they can own a acre of land to be preserved for life. Please, when you can, try to look into this company (http://www.maderaintl.com) to see if they are hurting the rain forest or helping... Thanks so much

A. Fornuto
Via Internet

A Sample,
Please

I would like to receive a free copy of your magazine as a trial. As a Brazilian living in the U.S., I would greatly appreciate a printed magazine about my home country and its rich culture, and am very interested in subscribing to it.

Daniel Ghizoni
Blacksburg, Virginia

When
Carnaval
Comes

My new interest is Brazil. Can I survive with English alone, how safe is it? Can I walk the streets safely, are the people friendly? Why these questions. I want to attend your Carnaval, maybe 2001.

Bill
Plainfield, New Jersey

Keeping in
Touch

Thank you for the free sample of Brazzil. My daughter is presently taking part in a cultural/scientific program in Brazil. She will be there until mid December. The magazine will be very beneficial to both of us. I feel like I have something to relate to now. Thanks so much!

M. Groseclose
Tazewell, Virginia

Helping
Hand

I recently received he latest issue of Brazzil and am very impressed. The articles were such that expatriate Brazilians or just those interested in Brazil (like me) will be informed. I noticed in that same issue a call for volunteers with regard to proofreading, writing, etc, and would like to receive additional info. I am very interested in volunteering in a capacity which you deem needed.

Nathan Manning
Via Internet

Bahia
Class

I picked up you magazine the other day at a Brazilian restaurant in Venice. I recently took a Portuguese class in Los Angeles and would like to study in Brazil. I'm aware of a language school in Rio (I actually visited when I went to Rio in March). Next year I'm particularly interested in visiting Salvador, Bahia. A friend believes there is a language school in Bahia called Diálogo. Do you have any information on it or any idea how I can find it?

Timothy Stirton
Los Angeles, California

Brazil 500

Can you tell me about Brazil's upcoming 500-year birthday celebrations? I've seen most of your recent articles, but don't remember one on this topic. When exactly is it and what is planned? I hope to travel to Rio with friends at that time. I already have my airline tickets for New Years Eve and Carnaval, but I think the birthday party will be better (tamer) for some. Thanks for any information you have.

Tom Brahan
Falls Church, Virginia

Team
Best

I am very interested in finding Brazilian owned or Brazilian related businesses located in the United States, particularly in Chicago. I am associated with a soccer club called Team Chicago. Our coach/director was raised in Brazil most of his life and the soccer club has adopted the "Brazilian style" type of soccer. You would be very impressed with the accomplishments of this club, especially the flagship team, Team Chicago Panthers U13 girls. They are undefeated and have been for eight consecutive seasons. We attribute that to the Brazilian style soccer that we play. I am interested in finding a Brazilian business that would be willing to use our club as its advertisement throughout the country in exchange for sponsorship. Mark my word, one day, this team will be at the Olympics.

Paula Pope
Chicago, Illinois

Brazil
Piqued

I am a graduate student interested in Brazil, the government, politics, and the military. Your magazine and any back issues would be helpful, I would be very grateful for any help or advice

Peter Giako
Flushing, New York

A Place
in Rio

Falo alemão, francês e inglês e tenho conhecimento de espanhol (pois estudo na Escola Suíço-Brasileira), moro somente com a minha mãe (que também fala francês e inglês) sobrando um quarto num apartamento espaçoso e bem localizado, em Copacabana. Costumamos hospedar suíços que vêm eventualmente ao Brasil para estágios, e o esquema de hospedagem é uma troca de experiências muito enriquecedora. Além disso, tenho uma casa em Búzios (praia de Manguinhos) disponível para interessados em alugá-la. Qualquer informação, pode escrever para natalia@rj.sol.com.br  

Natalia Rayol Fontoura
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Hidden
Riches

Queria dar os parabéns a Daniella Thompson pela matéria sobre a Família Roitman, que está, como de hábito, feita com muito cuidado e seriedade. A autora mais uma vez mostra o seu empenho em divulgar, da música brasileira, aquilo que é menos óbvio e, por isso mesmo, mais necessitado de que se chame a atenção. É um grande serviço que ela presta...

Helion Povoa
Rio de Janeiro

Work in
Brazil

Gostaria de receber mais de uma cópia da revista se possível. Eu gosto muito da Brazzil... e também do Brasil! E mais uma coisa... Vocês sabem de oportunidades para dar aulas de inglês em uma escola no nordeste do Brasil? Onde ficam as listas para trabalho como este, e também para trabalho como escrever propaganda de promoções de música? Eu tenho muito experiência nas duas coisas. Para mais detalhes, olhe meu site: www.wordsplash.com

Ceja Ciaran
Albany, California

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