12.30.2009

ANO NOVO: Boas Entradas e Ótimas Saídas!

The central Pacific Ocean island nation of Kiribati claims that its easternmost landmass, uninhabited Caroline Island, is the first to usher in the New Year.

AUSTRALIA – The fireworks of Sydney, the largest city in Australia, are one of the most-watched events on television worldwide.

BRASIL – As pessoas geralmente se vestem de branco e, no Rio de Janeiro, vão para a beira do mar ver os fogos. Em outras praias – Santos/Praia Grande – visitam a estátua de Iemanjá e lançam flores, perfumes e velas ao mar. Em São Paulo, há a corrida de São Silvestre na véspera do Ano Novo [que dá para assistir da minha janela].

FRANCE: They have a great show with fire works shot near the Eiffel tower. French people call New Year's Eve la Saint-Sylvestre. On this day they have a special feast called le Réveillon de Saint-Sylvestre in which they have nice dishes like pancakes and flavoured duck or goose. They drink champagne, a white sparkling wine produced in the Champagne Region of France. They also drink Vin chaud (hot wine), but sparkling cider is also common. They also have a festival cake called galette des rois which has sometimes a little king figure baked inside. They believe, like several other countries, that this nice dinner brings a nice year to the family.

UK: London has a major fireworks display along the River Thames, followed by a parade on New Year's Day. (Pena que os transportes públicos praticamente não funcionam nesse dia).

Bonne Année / Happy New Year /
Buon Anno / Feliz Ano Novo

12.27.2009

ON THE CUSP = ON THE VERGE

[na iminência de]  The online encyclopedia Wikipedia is on the cusp of launching a major revamp to how people contribute to some pages. The site will require that revisions to pages about living people and some organizations be approved by an editor. If a page has a number of controversial edits or is repeatedly vandalized, editors can lock a page, so that it cannot be edited by everyone.
Source: Can't remember... maybe YourDict

12.26.2009

TODAY IS BOXING DAY IN LONDON!

Boxing Day is traditionally celebrated on 26 December, St. Stephen's Day, the day after Christmas Day. [...] --------
       Boxing Day sales are getting under way as high street* retailers open their doors to bargain-savvy shoppers.
          *High Street, or the High Street, is a metonym for the generic name (and frequently the official name) of the primary business street of towns or cities, especially in the United Kingdom. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in city centres, and is most often used in reference to retailing.
       Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday (a shopping spree), much as the United States treats the day after Thanksgiving. It is a time where shops have sales, often with dramatic price decreases. For many merchants, Boxing Day has become the day of the year with the greatest revenue.
-----Many retailers open very early (typically 5 am or even earlier) and offer doorbuster deals and loss leaders to draw people to their stores. It is not uncommon for long queues to form early in the morning of 26 December, hours before the opening of shops holding the big sales, especially at big-box consumer electronics retailers. Once inside, the shoppers often rush and grab, as many stores have a limited quantity of big draw or deeply discounted items ... hectic shopping experience ... customer stampedes...In recent years, retailers have expanded their deals to "Boxing Week"...
      [...] The name derives from the tradition of giving seasonal gifts, on the day after Christmas, to less wealthy people and social inferiors, which was later extended to various workpeople such as labourers and servants.
[More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_day]

12.21.2009

CHRISTMAS PUDDING (PLUM PUDDING) / BOLO REI / CHRISTMAS WORLDWIDE

Christmas pudding is the dessert traditionally served on Christmas Day (December 25). It has its origins in England, and is sometimes known as plum pudding, though this can also refer to other kinds of boiled pudding involving a lot of dried fruit… [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_pudding]

Bolo Rei é um bolo tradicional português que se come na consoada por alturas do Natal (25 de Dezembro) até ao Dia de Reis (6 de Janeiro), numa clara alusão aos mesmos (reis magos). De forma redonda com grande buraco no centro lembra uma coroa pintalgada por frutos secos e cristalizados. No interior do bolo Rei encontram-se misturadas com a massa branca e fofa: passas, frutos secos, frutas cristalizadas além da característica fava, dizendo a tradição que tem o direito a pedir um desejo quem tal fava lhe calhar em fatia (ou muitas vezes cabendo-lhe o pagamento do jantar). Inicialmente escondia-se também em cada bolo rei uma pequenina surpresa ou brinde. A inclusão de brinde foi proibida pela União Europeia, por alegados motivos de segurança, já que o brinde é feito de metal. ... [http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolo_rei]

Christmas worldwide - The Christmas season is celebrated in different ways around the world, varying by country and region. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tradition]

12.09.2009

BOISTEROUS / RAMBUNCTIOUS

(adjective)
Boisterous: [impetuoso, tumultuoso, irrequieto, violento]:Exuberant, loud, rowdy.
Rambunctious: [barulhento, agitado, violento]
--------"Prezada Mãe:  Seu filho... " [Tenho um sobrinho que não acreditava que havia mães que não recebiam esse recado da professora - minha irmã recebia tantos que ele já sabia de cor o conteúdo da mensagem. E, depois dos 30, além de ser um brilhante tecladista, com sua própria banda, retomou os estudos e é um advogado!]
--------Boisterous has been used by teachers for decades as a kind way of explaining to parents that their children were being bad. Being tactful, the teacher may say, "Oh, he's not bad. Just rambunctious and boisterous." Mom and Dad knew what the teacher meant, and you always heard from them when they got home from the conference. The meaning of the word depends highly on context: boisterous crowds are often the most fun to be a part of, but boisterous town hall meetings are not.
--------Boisterous can mean jolly and excited just as well as rowdy or unrestrained. It is one step removed, however, from being violently so. While often employed in terms of people, it may be used to describe rough, stormy weather, particularly on the sea. The adverb form boisterously and the noun boisterousness are seen less frequently but are no less grammatically correct.
Source:YourDictionary

12.08.2009

FIGARO, FIGARO, FIGARO...

CARMEN opens the 2009-2010 opera season in Milan!
Ouça aqui a abertura de Carmen direto do site do Teatro Alla Scala:
http://www.teatroallascala.org/en/index.html

KNOCK! KNOCK! WHO IS THERE? IT'S ME OR IT'S I?

You're trying to make the right impression as you knock on the door.
"Who's there?" you're asked.
What's your reply? If you've ever been unsure, read on.
Pronouns as subject complements.
-----A subject complement is a word or phrase that follows a linking verb such as is or seems; it's the that in This is that, and it's the gray in All cats seem gray. A subject complement isn't the object of a verb but something linked to the subject by the verb. The rule for subject complements is very simple: They should be in the same case as the subject they are linked to, which is, of course, the subjective case.
-----It's me and It's us break the rule, a fact that has probably generated more incredulity among grammar-school students than any other precept of "good grammar," because It's I and It's we seem impossibly unnatural to them. Grammar experts often advise breaking the rule whenever the subjective pronouns I and we seem stiff or prissy, as they do following the informal contraction It's and in many other situations. That was we waterskiing by your cabin yesterday; When you hear three knocks, it will be I; His chief victim was I -- such sentences may obey the rule, but they are idiomatically objectionable.
-----There are, of course, sentences in which obeying the rule is not idiomatically objectionable. In It was I who broke your ski, the subjective who seems to make I preferable even though in principle there need be no agreement in case between a pronoun and its antecedent. The ear has to be the judge, hence our graphic for this column (just in case you were wondering).
-----It's him and It's her cannot be defended quite as energetically, because the rule-observing It's he and It's she, though perhaps slightly stilted, are not outlandish; most careful speakers and writers do use them. It's them is perhaps more often defensible, because It's they is more than slightly stilted. Again, the ear must be the judge; That was he skiing by your house seems fine to most, but His chief victim was she seems contrary to idiom, and to a lesser extent so does That was they skiing by your house.
-----So, when asked, "Who's there?" and you want to sound natural and idiomatic, go with "It's me." But if you are eager to impress with your impeccable grammar, consider replying with "It is I."
Source: Your Dictionary

12.07.2009

TINHAM CHEGO OU TINHAM CHEGADO? EXCEÇÃO: ACEITO / ACEITADO

De repente, na TV, alguém fala: “Os jogadores tinham chego...” Ai, isso doeu!
Chego é forma inepta do particípio de chegar, que só tem forma plena (chegado), e não a forma contrata (como aceito, de aceitar). Portanto, o correto é: Tinha chegado atrasado. Dê uma chegada (não um chego) aqui.
Certo:  Eu tinha chegado atrasada.   /   Eu tinha trazido o bolo.   /   Trago o que quiser.
Errado:  Eu tinha chego atrasada.     /   Eu tinha trago o bolo.

EXCEÇÃO: ACEITO / ACEITADO
Quando há duplo particípio, usa-se a forma regular (terminada em “do”) com os auxiliares ter ou haver; com os verbos ser ou estar, usa-se a forma irregular.
1: Apesar de TER (ou HAVER) aceitado o jogo, ele estava desconfiado.
2: Mesmo não cumprindo todos os requisitos, o rapaz FOI aceito como aluno.
Fonte: Várias

VERBOS COM DUPLO PARTICÍPIO:
INFINITIVO / PARTICÍPIO / PARTICÍPIO IRREGULAR

aceitar / aceitado / aceito, aceite /[tem] aceitado / [foi/está] aceito
acender / acendido / aceso
benzer / benzido / bento
contundir / contundido / contuso
dispersar / dispersado / disperso
eleger / elegido / eleito
entregar / entregado / entregue
enxugar / enxugado / enxuto
expelir / expelido / expulso
expressar / expressado / expresso
exprimir / exprimido / expresso
expulsar / expulsado / expulso
extinguir / extinguido / extinto
findar / findado / findo
frigir / frigido / / frito
ganhar / ganhado / ganho
imergir / imergido / imerso
imprimir / imprimido / impresso
incorrer / incorrido / incurso
inserir / inserido / inserto
isentar / isentado / isento
limpar / limpado / limpo
matar / matado / morto
morrer / morrido / morto
murchar / murchado / murcho
pagar / pagado / pago
prender / prendido / preso
salvar / salvado / salvo
secar / secado / seco
segurar / segurado / seguro
soltar / soltado / solto
submergir / submergido / submerso
suspender / / suspendido / suspenso
tingir / tingido / / tinto
vagar / vagado / vago
veja mais em:  http://kplus.cosmo.com.br/materia.asp?co=48&rv=Gramatica

EMBELLISH / EMBEZZLE

EMBELLISH (transitive verb) [enfeitar, decorar]: 1) to decorate or improve by adding detail; ornament; adorn. 2) to add grace notes, syncopated accents, trills, etc. to (a melody). 3) to improve (an account or report) by adding details, often of a fictitious or imaginary kind; touch up.
EMBEZZLE (transitive verb) [dar desfalque; aporopriar-se indevidamente]: to steal (money, etc. entrusted to one's care); take by fraud for one's own use.
Source: Your Dictionary

IMBIBE

(verb) [embeber, absorver]: 1) To take in liquid; the transitive form of the verb means to drink alcoholic beverages, specifically; 2) To absorb anything.
This word goes beyond simply drinking or eating to absorbing anything that one finds essential or pleasurable. Anywhere you would use "drink"or "absorb" you may embellish your speech with this more eloquent term: "Teachers enjoy seeing a student imbibe knowledge with passion." "Meeting Hortense at the party was enjoyable; I imbibed her understanding of the Japanese economy, as well as a few glasses of burgundy." "After two humid, suffocating hours of tennis, let's off to the pub and imbibe a few." [entornar umas e outras?]
Source: YourDictionary

12.06.2009

AMBLÍOPES / INVISUAIS GANHAM SERVIÇO GRATUITO NO METRO DO PORTO

Aquele que sofre de ambliopia, ou seja, enfraquecimento da visão por defeito da sensibilidade da retina, sem que haja qualquer lesão orgânica aparente no globo ocular.

A partir de um vulgar telemóvel, e após inscrição prévia, utilizadores são localizados na estação e apoiados nos vários passos da viagem.

De acordo com o comunicado da empresa, o serviço Navmetro permite que os utentes invisuais sejam “conduzidos nos vários momentos de utilização do sistema - escolha de título, validação, encaminhamento no interior da estação -, disponibilizando igualmente informação genérica sobre o metro - linhas, horários, títulos”.

12.02.2009

WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY

(noun) a subsidiary company that is owned entirely (100%) by its parent company [subsidiária integral]: "Fasty Limited, a company incorporated in England, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fasty Inc., a company incorporated in the United States."
Related words and concepts
parent company - a company that owns enough voting shares in another firm, called the subsidiary, to control that company's management and operations
affiliated company - a company in which another company has a minority interest, or a company that is related to another company in some way
indirect subsidiary - the subsidiary of a subsidiary
Common phrases
"Smallco will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Bigco."
"We are offering you a contract with our wholly owned subsidiary."
Common mistake
Though often written as "wholly-owned" the correct form is not hyphenated: "wholly owned". With certain exceptions, adverbs ending in 'ly' always modify the word immediately following them. Thus, they do not require a hyphen to indicate which word they modify. This is true in both British and American English.
Source: YourDictionary

12.01.2009

CHANGES

Kelly & Ozzy Osbourne
[Kelly:] I feel unhappy / I am so sad / I lost the best friend / That I've ever had
[Ozzy:] She is my baby / I love her so / But it's too late now / I've let her go
[Both:] We're going through changes (ohh - [chorus])
[Kelly:] We've shared the years / We've shared each day / I love you daddy / But I found my way
[Ozzy:]  You know the world / Is an evil place / My baby is grown now / She's found her way
[Both:] (ohh ahh - [Chorus])  We're going through changes (ohh - [chorus])
[Kelly:]  It took so long / To realize / I can still hear  / His last goodbyes
[Ozzy:]  Now all my days / I'm filled in fears / Wish I could go back / And change the years
[Both:]  We're going through changes / We're going through changes (changes - [Chorus]) / Changes...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6i1ywioIm0

11.29.2009

X as in XMAS / XIAN / XFORMER / XREF / XTAL / XL

In abbreviations, it can represent "trans-" (e.g. XMIT for transmit, XFER for transfer), "cross-" (e.g. X-ing for crossing; XREF for cross-reference), "Christ" (e.g. Xmas for Christmas; Xian for Christian), the "Crys" in Crystal (XTAL), or various words starting with "ex" (e.g. XL for extra large; XOR for exclusive-or).

Xmas has been used for hundreds of years in religious writing, where the X represents a Greek chi, the first letter of Χριστος, "Christ." In this use it is parallel to other forms like Xtian, "Christian." But people unaware of the Greek origin of this X often mistakenly interpret Xmas as an informal shortening pronounced (ĕksPRIMARY_STRESSməs). Many therefore frown upon the term Xmas because it seems to them a commercial convenience that omits Christ from Christmas. "Xmas" is frowned upon in modern guides for writing styles. Style guides at the New York Times,[2] The Times, The Guardian and the BBC all rule out its use, where possible.
Soources: YourDictionary / Wikipedia

11.27.2009

BONA FIDE = GOOD FAITH = GENUINE = LAWFUL >< BAD FAITH = SHAM = COUNTERFEIT = ILLEGITIMATE

(adjective) genuine, lawful,
bona fide = made or done in good faith - "The power to amend the articles must be exercised bona fide for the benefit of the company as a whole."
Synonyms
genuine: "There was a genuine dispute about ownership of the property."
authentic: "The seller was unable to produce an authentic deed proving that he had title to the property he was trying to sell."
Antonyms
artificial, fraudulent
sham: "It was alleged that the defendant had created a sham company in order to hide sales worth millions."
counterfeit: "More than 3,000 counterfeit DVDs have been seized by Trading Standards officers during an operation in Berkshire."
illegitimate: "The President has condemned elections held in the breakaway region on Saturday as illegitimate."
Source: YourDictionary

11.24.2009

LET'S SEE HOW THE COOKIE CRUMBLES

Vamos ver como é que ficam as coisas...
Fonte: Comentário de PD sobre o próximo Powwow do Proz, no dia 12/12, em Santos. Eu vou!

11.22.2009

NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION

How true!
Veja esse e outros provérbios, com a respectiva tradução, aqui: http://www.amar-ela.com/proverbios-ingleses

MAIEUTICS

 Maieutics(noun)/ Maieutic (adj): The Socratic method of teaching by helping someone articulate ideas already in their mind; intellectual midwifery.
----------This voweliferous word denotes an approach to teaching that has survived for 2500 years. Socrates believed that all humans innately possess the concepts necessary for understanding the world.
----------Some people seem to understand it better than others because they are better at organizing those ideas or have had someone to help them "deliver" or raise those concepts to consciousness.
----------Socrates did not give answers; rather, he asked carefully articulated questions that led his students, step by step, to logical conclusions. [Realmente, fazer a pergunta certa é tão importante quanto a resposta.] Socratic teachers do not deliver ideas to students but from them, teaching them in the process to think, to organize and focus the murky [lacking clarity or distinctness; cloudy or obscure], innate ideas already within themselves.
Source: YourDictionary

IMMINENT / EMINENT / IMMANENT

(adjective)
Imminent: "impending, verging on occurrence" as an imminent thunderstorm.
Eminent: "prominent, outstanding or standing out above others" as an "eminent peak" or an "eminent logician."
Immanent: 1) Bodily fluids and semi-fluids such as blood, lymph, or glandular secretions that excite a response; the fluids of the eye; 2) The comical, what is funny and anything that causes it; also, a mood.
Suggested Usage: An immanent evil is a pervasive evil fully integrated into humans, society, or some other system. A person might be guilty of an immanent affection for someone else, i.e. a purely mental, interior or subjective love that the affection's target might be unaware of. We all enjoy people possessed of an immanent light that illumines all the places they go.
Source: YourDictionary

PROLEGOMENON = PREFACE = FOREWORD

(noun): A preliminary discussion; a preface or foreword. Plural is "prolegomena". The adjective is "prolegomenous."
This is a somber [gloomy, serious, grave] term for sedate [dignified, serenely deliberate] occasions, "As a prolegomenon to this meeting, I would like for us to discuss the advantages of simply taking whatever they offer and levanting [run off without paying; “cair fora”]."
It sounds a bit misplaced in normal social intercourse, "Arnold proposed to me last night. As a prolegomenon to his proposal, he gave me an in-depth analysis of his financial situation."
Source: YourDictionary

11.19.2009

HUMOR, HUMOUR

(só para lembrar que “humor” também pode ter outros significados)
(noun): 1) Bodily fluids and semi-fluids such as blood, lymph, or glandular secretions that excite a response; the fluids of the eye; 2) The comical, what is funny and anything that causes it; also, a mood..
Usage: 1) The word is used in the sense of "bodily fluids" mostly in medicine and biology; 2) In Britain it is spelt "humour;" in the U. S. it is spelled "humor."
Suggested Usage: The meaning "bodily fluid" is still in use, especially in medicine, and can enrich our speech: "He makes me so mad that all my humors boil!" You may also use it as an alternative to that well-worn stand-by "mood": "What is your humor today?" Let's take advantage of the semantic heritage of this word before we lose it.
Source: YourDictionary
1 Estado de espírito, bom ou mal; DISPOSIÇÃO; TEMPERAMENTO: Ela às vezes está de bom/ mau humor
2 Espírito ou veia cômica, sua tendência e expressão; COMICIDADE; GRAÇA: O adorável humor do barão de Itararé [ Antôn.: gravidade, seriedade.]
3 Sensibilidade para perceber ou expressar o cômico: Só o humor atenua os males da política nacional.
4 Fisl. Qualquer substância líquida existente no corpo, como o sangue, a bile, a linfa

Humor aquoso: 1 Anat. Ópt. Líquido do olho, entre o cristalino e a córnea.
Humor negro: 1 Tipo de humorismo que tem como tema uma situação trágica, macabra etc.
Humor vítreo: 1 Antq. Anat. Ópt. Termo que designava na antiga nomenclatura anatômica, substância gelatinosa do globo ocular, entre o cristalino e a retina; corpo vítreo.
Quatro humores: 1 Fil. Hist. Segundo Galeno, quatro líquidos do corpo cujo equilíbrio era vital para saúde; eram o sangue, a bílis negra, a fleuma e a bílis amarela.
Fonte: Aulete Digital

11.17.2009

AUGHT

(pronoun): Anything, all, everything; nothing, zero; (adverb) at all.

Usage: English has a peculiar way of expressing years, "nineteen (hundred) twenty-three," and so forth, omitting the "hundred." This presents a problem for the first decade of a millennium since "twenty hundred" is unacceptable and to refer to a year as simply "two" would be incomprehensible. The solution is to use the term "ought two" ('02). But if the original meaning of "aught" was "everything," how can it now mean "nothing, zero?" The etymology will explain all.

Suggested Usage: We are not suggesting that the entire English-speaking world surrender its conviction that aught means "zero," but here is how things would go if we did: "I have naught but good things to say about him since he was released back in [n]aught one ('01)." On the positive side, we may continue to say, "Has she aught to recommend her for the job?"—those of us who talked this way to begin with.
Source: YourDictionary

11.15.2009

SPRANQ ECO SANS: FONTE ECOLÓGICA E ECONÔMICA

Pequenos espaços em branco garantem economia sem diminuir qualidade de leitura

Que tal abandonar a Arial e a Times New Roman e passar a usar a Ecofont? Além de bonita, ela também é ecologicamente correta e economiza em 20% o gasto com tinta na sua impressora. Veja em:
http://olhardigital.uol.com.br/central_de_videos/video_wide.php?id_conteudo=8845
ou em:
http://www.ecofont.eu/ecofont_pt.html

A Ecofont
Todos os dias gastamos muitos papéis fazendo os nossos impressos. Além disso, gastamos também muita tinta e, segundo a SPRANQ agência de comunicação (Utrecht, Holanda), parcialmente sem necessidade. Por isso, a SPRANQ criou uma fonte nova: a Ecofont.
Uma idéia boa é sempre fácil: olhando a forma de uma letra, em quanto podemos reduzí-la sem que fique ilegível? Uma pesquisa testou vários formatos e teve o seguinte resultado: tirar círculos pequenos. Assim foi possível criar uma fonte que economiza 20% em tinta. A Ecofont pode ser baixada e usada gratuitamente.

11.12.2009

LIBERTY or FREEDOM?

POST NO. 300!
Já comentei elsewhere neste blog o meu quase “transtorno obssessivo-compulsivo” (“TOC”) de andar pelas ruas traduzindo tudo que vejo. Pois bem, da minha janela vejo o “Torii” da Rua Galvão Bueno, no bairro oriental chamado “Liberdade”. Encafifei com a tradução desse termo. Seria “liberty” ou “freedom”? Bem, primeiro, temos que saber a origem do nome. Encontrei:

“O bairro da Liberdade
-------Antes de ser conhecido como "O Bairro Japonês", e mais recentemente, como "O Bairro Oriental" de São Paulo, a Liberdade era pouco mais que uma passagem para o gado e outros produtos que vinham das chácaras da Zona Sul para o Centro.
-------A partir dos séculos XVIII e XIX o bairro começou a ser mais conhecido, ainda que por um motivo lúgubre: ali foi instalada uma forca destinada a punir escravos fugitivos, criminosos comuns e revoltosos.
-------Um triste evento desta natureza é relatado quando se explica a origem do nome "Liberdade". Consta que, no ano de 1821, dois soldados amotinados foram submetidos ao patíbulo: Joaquim José Cotintiba e Francisco Jospe das Chagas, o Chaguinhas. Enquanto a execução do primeiro transcorreu sem problemas, a do segundo tornou-se extremamente difícil à medida que, sucessivamente, arrebentavam as cordas que deveriam asfixiá-lo. Segundo a narrativa, ele só teria morrido após inúmeras tentativas do carrasco, nao sem antes contar com a aclamação da multidão de populares que, considerando o estranho fato prova de sua inocência, clamava aos gritos que lhe fosse concedida a Liberdade. Lenda ou não, o fato é que o local conhecido como "Campo da Forca" é agora ocupado pela famosa "Praça da Liberdade".
-------A ocupação pelos imigrantes japoneses só se efetivaria a partir da primeira década do século XX, numa progressão que seria reduzida ao término da Segunda Grande Guerra. Na ocasião, as beiras de várzeas, preenchidas por vários casarões desocupados dos antigos fazendeiros, ofereciam uma moradia razoável para as numerosas famílias orientais que aportavam em Santos, após semanas cruzando os oceanos.
-------Nas décadas de 1980-90, o fluxo se reverteria pela remessa de trabalhadores nisseis e sanseis, descendentes dos japoneses da primeira e da segunda geração, enviados ao Japão na qualidade de trabalhadores não especializados, dekasseguis.
De qualquer maneira, o fato de haver “um pequeno Japão”, encravado em pleno centro da cidade de São Paulo, contribuiu efetivamente para o intercâmbio entre as culturas e a projeção de vários membros da colônia japonesa entre os cidadãos brasileiros.
Fonte: http://literatura.moderna.com.br/moderna/literatura/arte/icones/ohtake/comunic

Agora vamos ver a definição de “liberty” e “freedom”:

LIBERTY: The condition of being free from restriction or control. The right and power to act, believe, or express oneself in a manner of one's own choosing. The condition of being physically and legally free from confinement, servitude, or forced labor. See synonyms at freedom. Freedom from unjust or undue governmental control. A right or immunity to engage in certain actions without control or interference: the liberties protected by the Bill of Rights. A breach or overstepping of propriety or social convention. Often used in the plural. A statement, attitude, or action not warranted by conditions or actualities: a historical novel that takes liberties with chronology. An unwarranted risk; a chance: took foolish liberties on the ski slopes. A period, usually short, during which a sailor is authorized to go ashore. Idiom: at liberty: Not in confinement or under constraint; free. Not employed, occupied, or in use.

FREEDOM: The condition of being free of restraints. Liberty of the person from slavery, detention, or oppression. Political independence. Exemption from the arbitrary exercise of authority in the performance of a specific action; civil liberty: freedom of assembly. Exemption from an unpleasant or onerous condition: freedom from want. The capacity to exercise choice; free will: We have the freedom to do as we please all afternoon. Ease or facility of movement: loose sports clothing, giving the wearer freedom. Frankness or boldness; lack of modesty or reserve: the new freedom in movies and novels. The right to unrestricted use; full access: was given the freedom of their research facilities. The right of enjoying all of the privileges of membership or citizenship: the freedom of the city. A right or the power to engage in certain actions without control or interference: "the seductive freedoms and excesses of the picaresque form" (John W. Aldridge).

Parece que os dois termos são sinônimos. Eu até preferiria usar “liberty”, que é mais parecido com o original, contudo, em vista da explicação abaixo, parece que o termo mais adequado é “Freedom”:

SYNONYMS freedom, liberty, license. These nouns refer to the power to act, speak, or think without externally imposed restraints. Freedom is the most general term: "In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free" (Abraham Lincoln). Liberty stresses the power of free choice: "liberty, perfect liberty, to think, feel, do just as one pleases" (William Hazlitt). License sometimes denotes deliberate deviation from normally applicable rules or practices to achieve a desired effect: poetic license. Frequently, though, it denotes undue freedom: "the intolerable license with which the newspapers break . . . the rules of decorum" (Edmund Burke).
Source: Your Dicitionary

Portanto, estou saindo para visitar o bairro oriental de “FREEDOM”!

ORDEAL

noun: A difficult or painful experience, especially one that severely tests character or endurance. See synonyms at trial. A method of trial in which the accused was subjected to physically painful or dangerous tests, the result being regarded as a divine judgment of guilt or innocence.

“sufoco” que é o que acabo de vivenciar nesses últimos dias tentando me livrar de um vírus. O anti-vírus leva 4 h para rodar e, enquanto isso, o PC fica lento, além de travar a cada 5 minutos - um liga-desliga sem fim. Finalmente, instalei o Norton Security 2010 e tudo se resolveu. Aleluia!

11.08.2009

ANIMADVERSION

(noun): Strong/hostile criticism, a critical or censorious remark. Act of perceiving an object; attention; severe censure; reproof; serious blame; punishment. This word combines with on or upon but not with to from and for. So you wouldn't say "He has an animadversion to that house." You could say, "His animadversions on that house were totally uncalled for." It acquired more meaning due to the fact that paying close attention to anyone's conduct will surely show all their minor imperfections and in turn may cause someone to find fault with them. -----"He entertained serious animadversions concerning that country and its behavior on the international scene."
-----“I hardly ever have any animadversion on blogs but yours I had to stop and say Tremendous Blog!”
-----"This is as much an engrossing human interest story as it is a fascinating record of the metapolitics of that period or a wise animadversion on today’s political realities."
-----I wonder if my animadversion to the stiffness I found in his book is actually a pointer to a taste grounded in a kind of exteriorised sentimentality--a Dickensian mannikinesque or roboticised outward projection of the inner life”.
Source: YourDictionary

11.04.2009

ENJOY A DECADENT MEAL FOR TWO!

Era isso que dizia a propaganda que recebi hoje de um supermercado britânico. E continuava:
"The Finest side dishes (Mashed Potatoes or Green Vegetable Selection), main course (Steak Diane or Chicken Kiev), dessert (Cheesecake or Banoffee Pie) and wine for £9! "
Hardly a “decadente” meal, eh? Rather, this is pure comfort food! (Pensando bem, tudo isso para 2 pessoas e por 9 pounds? (vinho incluído?) – BA, aqui vou eu!

(adj.): Being in a state of decline or decay. Marked by or providing unrestrained gratification; self-indulgent.
(noun): A person in a condition or process of mental or moral decay. A member of the Decadence movement.

ORIENT or ORIENTATE?

(verb): 1) To place facing east or to point east; 2) determine the position of something with reference to the east; 3) orient; 4) figuratively to determine one's true position. To align or position with respect to a point or system of reference: oriented the telescope toward the moon; oriented her interests toward health care. to determine the bearings of. To make familiar with or adjusted to facts, principles, or a situation. To focus (the content of a story or film, for example) toward the concerns and interests of a specific group. Familiarize. --It is suggested that "orientated" is used more by the British while "oriented" is used more by Americans, and more specifically in technical works.
---------Oriented and orientated are used interchangeably. Both verbs also mean to adjust to new surroundings or circumstances. When speaking or writing technically we talk about being oriented as in object-oriented programming while when speaking casually we can use orientated or oriented. Preference dictates usage although using either word may get you quizzical looks depending on your audience.
---------Service-oriented architecture (SOA), pode ser traduzido como arquitetura orientada a serviços, e é um estilo de arquitetura de software cujo princípio fundamental preconiza que as funcionalidades implementadas pelas aplicações devem ser disponibilizadas na forma de serviços.[1][2] Freqüentemente estes serviços são organizados através de um "barramento de serviços" (enterprise service bus, em inglês).
---------Oriented:
Service-oriented approach
Aspect-oriented software
object-oriented programming / thinking / design
concept-oriented paradigm
transist-oriented planning
Let's join hands and work together for the establishment of the good-neighbourly partnership of mutual trust oriented to the 21st century.
Quality services model oriented to customers.
Create a corporate culture oriented to optimizing performance...
Getting oriented to patient-oriented outcomes.
Cooperation oriented to the development of local “know how” and experience
---------Orientated:
A free UK orientated web directory that offers direct links for websites with no reciprocal required.
Are You A Family Orientated Person?
Poverty Orientated Agricultural and Rural Development.
Intervention orientated to the reduction in the vulnerability of women belonging to aboriginal communities
Align text orientated to the west at the lower right corner of ..
When a country changes from an inward orientated to an outward orientated strategy different economic policies are introduced
All new staff should be orientated to the policy within their first week of employment and then fully trained to implement it.
"He . . . stood for a moment, orientating himself exactly in the light of his knowledge"
---------Antonym: disorient
Sources: YourDictionary / Wikipedia

11.03.2009

SMITHEREENS

(noun): A multitude of bits and pieces (to smash to smithereens).
-------This word seems to be a plural noun, since the singular is all but never used. However, D. H. Lawrence proved it still performs creatively when he wrote, "The sun went bang, with smithereens of birds bursting in all directions,"
-------The fragments referred to by this word may be abstract as well as concrete: "His life was reduced to smithereens (reduzida a pó, ficou em pedaços) when his wife refused to surrender the remote control of the TV."
-----  Why not use the singular? "Who shattered my Ming vase! You clean up the mess and pick up every single smithereen!"
Source: YourDictionary

11.02.2009

DIVERSION = DEVIATION = DIVERGENCE / AMUSEMENT = ENTERTAINMENT = RECREATION

noun:
1. The act or an instance of diverting or turning aside; deviation. A departing from what is prescribed: change in a course, path. A change made in a prescribed route for operational or tactical reasons. A diversion order will not constitute a change of destination. A rerouting of cargo or passengers to a new transshipment point or destination or on a different mode of transportation prior to arrival at ultimate destination. A turning aside or altering of the natural course or route of a thing. The term is chiefly applied to the unauthorized change or alteration of a water course to the prejudice of a lower riparian, or to the unauthorized use of funds.   Aberration, departure, deviation, divergence, divergency. See approach/retreat, correct/incorrect. Antonyms: conforming, staying
2. Activity engaged in for relaxation and amusement: disport, fun, play, recreation, sport. See work/play.
3. Entertainment, recreation. Something that distracts the mind and relaxes or entertains, especially a performance or show, designed to entertain: amusement, distraction, entertainment, recreation. See excite/bore/interest. Antonyms: chore, task, vocation, work
4. A maneuver that draws the attention of an opponent away from a planned point of action, especially as part of military strategy. The act of drawing the attention and forces of an enemy from the point of the principal operation; an attack, alarm, or feint that diverts attention. In naval-mine warfare, a route or channel bypassing a dangerous area. A diversion may connect one channel to another, or it may branch from a channel and rejoin it on the other side of the danger.

Legal: A program for the disposition of a criminal charge without a criminal trial; sometimes called operation de nova, intervention, or deferred prosecution. The disposition is conditional on the defendant's performing certain tasks or participating in a treatment program. If the conditions are successfully completed, the charge is dismissed. But if the accused does not meet his or her obligations, prosecution may be instituted.
Diversion may refer to:
  • Pharmaceutical diversion, the diversion of licit drugs for illicit purposes
  • Product diversion, the sale of products in unintended markets
  • A distraction
  • Diversion program, criminal justice scheme usually for minor offenses
  • A detour, especially of an airplane flight due to severe weather or mechanical failure, or of an ambulance from a fully-occupied emergency room to one another nearby hospital
  • The rerouting of water from a river or lake for flood control, or as part of a water supply network for drinking water or irrigation
  • Diversionary tactic, also known as feint; a military deception designed to draw enemy strength away from a primary target
Source: YourDictionary

IMPOSE = LEVY = PRESCRIBE

(verb) to burden with some form of duty
"Obligations were imposed by contractual provisions."
Synonyms
levy (often used when discussing taxes, tariffs and other charges): "The government continues to levy charges on people who switch to another mortgage lender."
prescribe: "The Act prescribes wage protections."
Other form of the word
imposition: "The article addresses the possible imposition of liability on estate agents."
Common phrases
"The Commission concluded that it could impose a fine."
"Do you feel that society has a right to impose the death penalty for especially heinous crimes?"
"Congress has never been willing to impose a rule that can be found in nearly every other democracy in the world."
Source:YourDictionary

ALMS

(noun): Money or other valuables given to charity or the poor.
Almsman" and "almswoman" as alternates for "beggar" are a bit more outmoded, but the base word, "alms," itself is still available for use. Although originally a singular noun, today it is plural: "alms are an expression of charity in both senses of the word."

If you are looking for a more literary and emphatic turn of phrase than "handout," try today's word: "I'm not asking for alms; I'll pay you back when I get my paycheck." When you need an arresting hyperbole to defend yourself against the children's relentless requests for money, today's word can work for you in many ways: "You'll drive us all to the alms house!"
Source: YourDictionary

11.01.2009

STRAITLACED

(adjective) (1) Wearing a garment that is tightly laced up; (2) excessively conservative in opinion and behavior, very prudish, priggish.  (conservador, “certinho”)

This word has been misspelled "straight-laced" for so long that this spelling is now accepted everywhere. The adverb, though rarely used, is "straitlacedly" while the noun is "straitlacedness" (with or without the hyphen).

"My sister is so strait-laced she won't let her teenage sons eat Lady Godiva chocolates."
"Her straitlaced husband won't even go out on the beach without a tie and jacket."
"I work in a straitlaced office where the men's cubicles are on one side of the building and the women's are on the other."
Source: YourDictionary

10.21.2009

QUORUM OU QUÓRUM?

"... 11) Por ser vocábulo pertencente a outro idioma, não deve ser acentuado (já que não o era na língua mãe), e deve ser grafado entre aspas, em itálico, negrito, sublinhado ou qualquer outro modo indicador de ser alheio ao vernáculo.
...
14) Assim, o Código Eleitoral (lei 4.737, de 15/7/65 - clique aqui), no art. 28, § 1º, traz o acerto parcial do legislador, que grafa o vocábulo sem acento gráfico, mas esquece o sinal indicador de estrangeirismo.
15) A Lei das Sociedades por Ações (lei 6.404, de 15/12/76 - clique aqui), não mostra sequer uniformidade de uso do vocábulo: a) na rubrica que encima o art. 125, emprega-o corretamente, sem acento gráfico e entre aspas; b) acerta, de outro modo, o emprego no art. 136, caput, em redação conferida pela Lei 9.457/97 (clique aqui), quando deixa de empregar o acento gráfico e escreve o vocábulo em itálico; c) no art. 129, § 1º, entretanto, utiliza-o sem acento gráfico, mas também sem elemento algum indicador de estrangeirismo, equívoco esse que se repetia na redação original do art. 136 caput, hoje revogada, e que continua na redação do art. 136, § 2º, ainda em vigor, e no art. 140, IV, e 141, § 5º (ambos com redação conferida pela lei 10.303/01 - clique aqui).
16) A Constituição Federal de 1988 (clique aqui), por seu lado, evitou seu uso e preferiu expressões substitutivas (voto da maioria, por exemplo).
17) O Código Civil de 2002 (lei 10.406, de 10/1/02 - clique aqui) alterna critérios em tal emprego: a) no art. 59, parágrafo único, acerta pela metade, ao deixar de usar o acento gráfico, mas ao esquecer os elementos indicadores de estrangeirismo (com redação dada pela lei 11.127/05 - clique aqui); b) no art. 1.094, acerta integralmente, grafando o vocábulo sem acento e em itálico; c) no art. 1.334, III, volta a acertar parcialmente, ao grafar sem acento gráfico e sem aspas ou sinal indicador de estrangeirismo; c) tal conduta de acerto parcial, em tais moldes, volta a repetir-se no art. 1.352 e 1.353.”
Fonte: Veja o artigo completo em: http://www.migalhas.com.br/mig_gramaticais.aspx?lista=S&cod=95396

10.18.2009

NASCENT / NASCENCY

NASCENT (adj): Coming into existence or having recently come into existence.
This word suggests a point in time when an object or idea is just being formed or has just been formed, but has not been fully realized. Thus, the noun, "nascency" (or simply "nascence"), can refer to a time of great hope or a missed opportunity.
When something undergoes change: "Her nascent cynicism about relationships came as a surprise to friends.
Situations that have just come to light:   "A nascent toadyism (puxa-saquismo?) is developing around our new manager, but he's not playing favorites yet."
XY brings spark to India’s nascent (emerging?) electric car market.
He expressed caution about the nascent (recente?) economic recovery.
Mobile social networking is a nascent market.
NASCENCY
 (noun):  State of being nascent; birth; beginning; origin.
His career began at the nascency (nascimento/surgimento?) of
A speaker at the 2006 NATPE Mobile show said, “at the nascent side of nascency”?
A corollary of the market's nascency is that it is often difficult to gauge the significance of many of the developments that are occurring in it.

EAST SIDE / WEST SIDE

posição/orientação solar: nascente/ poente
Orthopedics is located off the East Wing = A ortopedia fica na ala leste/nascente.
The east central concourse is just off the Grand Entrance. O corredor/salão central leste/centro-leste fica logo após a entrada principal ....
A ala poente (da esquerda para a direita) do Palácio Nacional de Belém
Casa de banho completa (voltada a poente. ..
Escada virada a poente
The East side... = O Lado Nascente (da direita para a esquerda) é constituído por dois dois edifícios
The East Wing ... A “ala nascente” da casa possui quatro quartos
A Ala Leste estende-se das escadarias de pedra até .

10.17.2009

WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE

when or if push comes to shove: when or if matters are ultimately confronted or resolved; when or if a problem must be faced; in a crucial situation:

“If push comes to shove, the government will impose quotas on imports.”
"When the pressure is on; when the situation is critical or urgent; when the time has come for action, even if it is difficult)
“He's not an extremely talented builder, but when push comes to shove, he can usually get the job done.”

Traduções sugeridas: “na hora do aperto”, "quando o caldo engrossa", "quando a coisa fica preta" ou "quando o bicho pega" ou “quando a água bate na bunda...” quando não há saída, quando não há outra solução, no frigir dos ovos (se correr o bicho pega; se parar o bicho come) (catch 22?)
Sources: Dictionary/Wikipedia/Lista “tradutores@yahoo”

10.16.2009

RATIONALE = JUSTIFICATION = GROUNDS

(noun) an explanation of the fundamental reasons or basis for something
"The judge crafted a compelling rationale for the court's decision."
Synonyms
justification: "The legal justification for the statute was that the legislature had not previously addressed the issue of hate crimes."
grounds: "Increases in airport waiting times are justified on the grounds of national security."
Common phrases
legitimate rationale: "Is there a legitimate rationale for such regulation?"
the rationale behind: "He explained the rationale behind the tests."
develop a rationale: "They developed a rationale to explain the change in prices from year to year."


REASON  (n.)
1.----The basis or motive for an action, decision, or conviction.
2.----A declaration made to explain or justify action, decision, or conviction: inquired about her reason for leaving.
3.----An underlying fact or cause that provides logical sense for a premise or occurrence: There is reason to believe that the accused did not commit this crime.
4.----The capacity for logical, rational, and analytic thought; intelligence.
5.----Good judgment; sound sense.
6.----A normal mental state; sanity: He has lost his reason.
7.----Logic. A premise, usually the minor premise, of an argument.


MOTIVE
n. An emotion, desire, physiological need, or similar impulse that acts as an incitement to action. A motif in art, literature, or music.
adj. Causing or able to cause motion: motive power. Impelling to action: motive pleas. Of or constituting an incitement to action.

MOTIF
n. A recurrent thematic element in an artistic or literary work. A dominant theme or central idea. Music. A short rhythmic or melodic passage that is repeated or evoked in various parts of a composition. A repeated figure or design in architecture or decoration.

LEITMOTIF = LEITMOTIV = LEADING MOTIF = LEADING MOTIVE = GUIDING MOTIF

1. ------A melodic passage or phrase, especially in Wagnerian opera, associated with a specific character, situation, or element. A frequently repeated phrase, image, symbol, or situation in a literary work, the recurrence of which usually indicates or supports a theme. The term (German, ‘leading motif’) comes from music criticism, where it was first used to describe the repeated musical themes or phrases that Wagner linked with particular characters and ideas in his operatic works. The repeated references to rings and arches in D. H. Lawrence's novel The Rainbow (1915) are examples of the use of a leitmotif
2. ------Related to hexa (six), not to the word hex (curse), hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia, the fear of 666, makes for quite a chilling leitmotif, or theme — perfect for a scary cinematic experience:
"Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia is a fear found in the Western Christian world, which originates in the belief that the Biblical verse, Revelation 13:18, indicates that the number 666 is linked to Satan or the Anti-Christ. Outside the Christian faith, the phobia has been further popularized as a leitmotif in various horror films."
3. -- ---Recurring themes or subjects in other forms of art or literature are sometimes also called leitmotifs.
Sources: YourDictionary; Answers.com

9.30.2009

EXPLOIT / EXPLORE

exploit:
To employ to the greatest possible advantage: exploit one's talents.  
To make use of selfishly or unethically: a country that exploited peasant labor. See synonims at manipulate.
To advertise; promote.
To put into action or use: actuate, apply, employ, exercise, implement, practice, use, utilize.
Idioms: avail oneself of, bring into play, bring to bear, make use of, put into practice, put to use. 
To take advantage of unfairly: abuse, impose, presume, use. See treat well/treat badly/treat.
To control to one's own advantage by artful or indirect means: maneuver, manipulate, play. See control/uncontrol, straight/bent.
explore:
v.tr. To investigate systematically; examine: explore every possibility.
To search into or travel in for the purpose of discovery: exploring outer space.
Medicine. To examine for diagnostic purposes.
v.intr. To make a careful examination or search: scientists who have been known to explore in this region of the earth. To go into or through for the purpose of making discoveries or acquiring information: delve, dig, inquire, investigate, look into, probe, reconnoiter, scout1. See investigate.
Source: Answers.com

CONTRARY = ADVERSE = CONVERSE = OPPOSED TO = NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH >< HARMONIOUS

(adjective) not in agreement with; opposed to
------"The sale of the shares took place contrary to the terms of the agreement."
Synonyms
-----adverse: "The plaintiff believed that she had a clear case and thus was adverse to the idea of settling out of court."
------converse: "While the district court granted the plaintiff's motion, the appellate court took a converse position and ordered

------the district court to deny the motion."
Antonyms
------harmonious: "One result of the EU is that the laws of the member states have harmonious trade provisions."
Common phrases
------on the contrary: from another point of view. "On the contrary, she might just agree with you."
------to the contrary: to the opposite effect. "The company was not in financial difficulty in 2006; to the contrary,

------they increased their market share by 25%.
Common mistakes
------When talking about a statute or other regulation, use "in contravention of", as in:
------"The conduct was in contravention of applicable corporate governance regulations."
Source: Translegal

9.27.2009

GENERAL or OVERALL INFORMATION?

(adj)
GENERAL:
1. Concerned with, applicable to, or affecting the whole or every member of a class or category: "subduing all her impressions as a woman, to something more general" (Virginia Woolf).
2. Affecting or characteristic of the majority of those involved; prevalent: general discontent.
3. Of or affecting the entire body: general paralysis.
4. Being usually the case; true or applicable in most instances but not all: the general correctness of her decisions.
5. a. Not limited in scope, area, or application: as a general rule. b. Not limited to or dealing with one class of things; diversified: general studies.
6. Involving only the main features rather than precise details: a general grasp of the subject.
7. Highest or superior in rank: the general manager.
OVERALL:
1. From one end to the other: the overall length of the house.
2. Including everything; comprehensive: the overall costs of medical care.
3. Regarded as a whole; general: My overall impression was favorable.

Source: Answers.com

9.23.2009

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Former XYZ Partners' New Firm Thrives

The fledgling boutique has already picked up some notable new clients like ...
The timing was right for a change.
--------XX’s clients -- mostly major Hollywood studios and media companies -- were increasingly chafing at the rates he and his colleagues charged at Los Angeles-based litigation giant XYZ.
--------So XX and fellow media-focused XYZ partners BB and RR took a leap of faith in May and left the prominent firm to start their own litigation boutique in Los Angeles, called XX RR & RR.
--------"The three of us needed to choose the path that would most benefit the clients," XX said.
With the economy just starting to climb out of its slump, it may seem a risky time to launch any new venture. Kendall insists that the recession created the ideal conditions to start a new firm, thanks to the growing thriftiness of clients. The plan for the new firm was fairly simple: lower billing rates, more flexibility to enter into alternative fee arrangements and significantly lower overhead than their former firm.
--------Five months in, the trio's gamble seems to be paying off.
(Read full text at: http://www.law.com/jsp/law/sfb/lawArticleSFB.jsp?id=1202433993202&rss=newswire)
[Nomes substituídos por letras]

BIAS = INCLINATION = INCLINE = LEANING = PARTIALITY = PENCHANT =PREDILECTION = PREDISPOSITION = PROCLIVITY = PROPENSITY = TENDENCY >< DISINCLINATION

Bias: (noun) A line going diagonally across the grain of fabric: Cut the cloth on the bias.
A preference or an inclination, especially one that inhibits impartial judgment.
An unfair act or policy stemming from prejudice.
A statistical sampling or testing error caused by systematically favoring some outcomes over others.
Sports. A weight or irregularity in a ball that causes it to swerve, as in lawn bowling. The tendency of such a ball to swerve. The fixed voltage applied to an electrode. (adj. ) Slanting or diagonal; oblique: a bias fold.
Proclivity (noun) : A natural propensity or inclination; predisposition; a strong, inborn preference or fondness for something:
"Inclination" implies a mild interest in something. "Proclivity" indicates a strong interest or fondness.
"Fetish" implies an unusually strong, even unnatural proclivity toward an object. The word "fetish" is both mis- and overused, so bring "proclivity" into play when speaking of strong but comprehensible preferences. "He has a proclivity for peanut butter and guacamole sandwiches" or "She has a proclivity to overstate the historical importance of her ancestors."
Predilection: A partiality or disposition in favor of something; a preference.
Converse of object
have: Foreign banks do not have a proclivity nor do they really feel an interest or need to go down market.
demonstrate: Furthermore, Jeremiah does not elsewhere demonstrate a proclivity for making such specific predictions. Adjective modifier
ideological: And that primitivism, shorn of all its ideological proclivities, is better off with another name.
political: As to contemporary issues, the book concludes in a way that hardly matches my own political proclivities.
personal: There's nothing overtly broken with the game, but you may love or hate certain aspects of it depending on your personal proclivities.
natural: Janardhana was, by instinct and natural proclivity, a person who wanted to talk to families on a personal basis.
Source: YourDictionary/Answers.com

IMPARTIAL=DISINTERESTED=NEUTRAL=UNBIASED >< PARTIAL=INTERESTED=BIASED

(adjective) unbiased, disinterested, favouring neither party.
"The dispute will be resolved through the offices of an impartial third party."
Synonyms:
-------disinterested: "The parties chose a disinterested attorney to mediate their dispute."
-------neutral: "The court ordered a neutral observer to oversee the psychological examination of the defendant."
Antonyms:
-------biased: "All advocacy is, by definition, biased advocacy."
-------partial: "The presence of a partial juror, who had not disclosed that she held stock in the plaintiff company, resulted in a new trial of the case."
Other forms of the word:
-------impartiality: "Nobody questioned the judge's impartiality."
Common phrases: impartial third party / impartial observer / impartial arbitrator / impartial judge
Common mistake: While "partial" can also mean "not whole", impartial does not mean whole. The opposite of partial in that usage is "complete".
Related concepts:
-------OBJECTIVE: not influenced by personal feelings "A good judge takes an objective approach to every case."
Source: Translegal

FAIR / IMPARTIAL / HONEST / FREE FROM BIAS / EQUITABLE / UNBIASED / DISINTERESTED >< PREJUDICIAL / BIASED

(adj.) "Every defendant is entitled to a fair and impartial trial."
Synonyms
--------disinterested: "The parties agreed to appoint a disinterested third party to mediate their dispute."
unbiased: "In order to serve on a jury, a person must be unbiased."
Antonyms
--------prejudicial: "The refusal to admit the evidence was prejudicial error that caused the defendant to lose the case."
--------biased: "The city planning board was clearly biased in favor of the hotel owner."
Common phrases
"The compensation reflected to the fair market value of the shares."
"The song was considered a fair use of the copyrighted work."
"The EC promotes fair competition across Europe." "The citizens demanded free and fair elections."

CONSENSUS

(noun): An opinion or position agreed upon by a group as a whole by unanimous or nearly unanimous agreement.
----------The traditional bugaboo with today's word is the redundant phrase "consensus of opinion," which seems to mean "an opinion (…) of opinion," a redundant expression if taken literally. However, redundancy is, in fact, the life-blood of language, found commonly in emphatic statements (especially very, very, very emphatic ones), so redundancy is a weak argument for ridding the language of verbal expressions.
----------Plural? ... Simply "consensuses."
----------This is a word we need to work into our conversations more since many things need consensus: "I think we've reached a consensus that we will see 'Lord of the Rings' rather than 'Shrek 2' tonight, right?"
----------However, keep in mind that a consensus may be a convergence of things other than opinions, "The consensus of all the testimony supported the charge that Jarvis did, in fact, switch the signs on the men's and women's restrooms, which led the jury to reach a quick consensus itself."
Source: YourDictionary

9.22.2009

TOP COMMERCIAL LAWYERS FORCED TO SLASH RATES

Michael Herman and Alex Spence
(http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article6843514.ece)
------The “magic circle” has lost some of its power: average hourly rates for London’s top commercial lawyers fell by a third last year as law firms offered substantial discounts after competition intensified in the downturn.
------Partners at London’s five elite firms billed an average of £450 an hour, down from £675 a year ago, according to Jim Diamond, an independent legal costs consultant.
------Mr Diamond said that the figures, collated from law firms and their clients, showed that the average cost of instructing a partner at Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Slaughter and May, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer or Linklaters had dropped to a five-year low.
------According to lawyers and their clients, the largest law firms, battered by the recession, are “falling over themselves” to cut prices in an attempt to retain business.

(see full text at: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article6843514.ece)

9.18.2009

OFF-THE-SHELF >< CUSTOM-MADE

"sem restrições"/ "sem receita"/ "pronto a usar" / "pronto para uso" - dependendo do contexto. Ex.: Um aplicativo que já existe na loja para ser comprado e não precisa ser encomendado ou fabricado sob medida; remédios disponíveis "off the shelf" = "sem restrições"/ "sem receita"/ "pronto a usar" / "pronto para uso"
custom format = (de formato personalizado)
proprietary based = (de base proprietária, exclusivo).

ROSH HASHANAH (Jewish New Year - 5770): Starts today, September 18, at sundown

Rosh Hashanah (literally "head of the year) is a Jewish holiday commonly referred to as the "Jewish New Year."
---------The traditional
Hebrew greeting on Rosh Hashanah is shana tova for "[a] good year", or shana tova umetukah for "[a] good and sweet year." Because Jews and the world are being judged by God for the coming year, a longer greeting translates as "may you be written and sealed for a good year" (ketiva ve-chatima tovah). It is customary that during the afternoon of the first day the practice of tashlikh is observed, in which prayers are recited near natural flowing water, and one's sins are symbolically cast into the water. Many also have the custom to throw bread or pebbles into the water, to symbolize the "casting off" of sins.
---------The Hebrew Bible defines Rosh Hashanah as a one-day observance, and since days in the Hebrew calendar begin at sundown, the beginning of Rosh Hashanah is at sundown at the end of 29 Elul. The rules of the Hebrew calendar are designed such that the first day of Rosh Hashanah will never occur on the first, fourth, or sixth days of the Jewish week[9] (ie Sunday, Wednesday or Friday).
Source: Wikipedia

9.16.2009

LEAVE

----------(Noun) “No cenário trabalhista, conhecemos diversos tipos de licença, remunerada (paid) ou não (unpaid) pelo empregador, sem ou com garantia de emprego (job protected leave). Nesse contexto, a tradução do termo licença para o inglês é, em regra, leave [of absence]. Tanto o termo leave como o termo licença formam colocações com diversos outros termos. Entre essas combinações lexicais temos:
----------licença adoção – foster care leave - "Foster care leave: When an employee becomes a foster parent, he/she may request and be granted up to 12 weeks of leave, to be taken any time during the 12 months beginning with the date of placement of the child."
----------licença gestante – pregnancy leave - "Failing to credit female workers for pregnancy leave in their pensions amounts to a current violation of antidiscrimination laws."
----------licença maternidade – maternity leave - "Out of 177 countries surveyed, 169 offer paid maternity leave, 145 guarantee paid sick days, 137 mandate paid vacation[…]"
----------licença médica – medical leave - "Troubling news tonight for Apple cofounder and CEO Steve Jobs. Jobs is taking a medical leave of absence until the end of June."
----------licença não remunerada – unpaid leave - [The] "Family and Medical Leave Act, which allowed workers at larger firms to take unpaid leave because of pregnancy or medical conditions."
----------licença paternidade – paternity leave - "[…] we all know that the concept of men taking paternity leave is still taboo in plenty of workplaces."
----------licença remunerada – paid leave - [In] "BULGARIA Moms receive 45 days of paid leave prior to their due date, and can take a full two years of paid leave per child."
----------licença saúde – sick leave, disability leave - "In 1978, Congress passed the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which required companies to offer pregnancy leave on equal terms with disability leave policies for men."
----------licença trabalhista – worker’s leave - "Unless there is a relevant agreement for another date, the worker’s leave year begins on the date employment commenced […]"
Atenção para o cognato license (e.g. driver’s license), pois nem sempre representará a alternativa de tradução mais idiomática."
Source: Migalaw English

9.08.2009

INTERNET SLANG: AFK / BTW / IRL / LOL / ROTF / TIA / TTYTT...

/ = another form of “over to you” (from x/y as “x over y”)
/\/\/\ = A giggle or chuckle. On a MUD, this usually means 'earthquake fault'.
\ = lambda (used in discussing LISPy things)
= grin
= grinning, ducking, and running
AFAIAC = as far as I am concerned
AFAIK = as far as I know
AFK = away from keyboard
b4 = before
BBL = be back later
BCNU = be seeing you
BRB = be right back
BTW = by the way
BYE? = are you ready to unlink? (to end a talk-mode conversation; the other person types BYE to confirm))
CU l8er = see you later (mutant of CU l8tr)
CU l8tr = see you later
CUL = see you later
ENQ? = are you busy? (expects ACK or NAK in return)
FOAD = fuck off and die (use of this is generally OTT)
FOO? = are you there? (often used on unexpected links, meaning also “Sorry if I butted in")

FWIW = for what it's worth
FYA = for your amusement
FYI = for your information
GA = go ahead (used when two people have tried to type simultaneously; this cedes the right to type to the other)
GRMBL = grumble (expresses disquiet or disagreement)
HELLOP = hello? (an instance of the ‘-P’ convention)
HHOJ = ha ha only joking
HHOK = ha ha only kidding

HHOS = ha ha only serious
IIRC = if I recall correctly
IMHO = in my humble opinion
IRL = in real life)
JAM = just a minute (equivalent to SEC.... )
LOL = laughing out loud
MIN = same as JAM
MLA = passionate kissing (major lip action).
MORF = male or female?
NHOH = Never Heard of Him/Her
NIL = no
NP = no problem
O = over to you
OBTW = oh, by the way
OIC = oh, I see
OO = over and out
OTOH = on the other hand
OTT = over the top (excessive, uncalled for)
ppl = abbrev for “people”
R U THERE? = are you there?
rehi = hello again
ROTF = Rolling On The Floor
ROTF = rolling on the floor
ROTFL = rolling on the floor laughing
SEC = wait a second (sometimes written SEC... )
SYN = Are you busy? (expects ACK, SYNACK, or RST in return; based on the TCP/IP handshake sequence)
T = yes
TAN= = an aggressive male (tough as nails)
THX = thanks (mutant of TNX; clearly this comes in batches of 1138 (the Lucasian K)).
TIA = hanks In Advance
TNX 1.0E6 = thanks a million (humorous)
TNX = thanks
TNXE6 = another form of “thanks a million”
TTBOMK = to the best of my knowledge
TTFN = ta-ta for now
TTYL = talk to you later
TTYTT = to tell you the truth
UOK? = are you OK?
WRT = with regard to, or with respect to.
WTF = the universal interrogative particle; WTF knows what it means?
WTH = what the hell?
YHTBT = You Had To Be There
Source: Answers.com

9.07.2009

NON SEQUITUR

--------Literally, not following (logically), illogical, not connected to anything previously said or (as a noun) a statement not following logically from what was previously said. It originates in logic, where it refers to an inference not following from the premise.
--------This is a pretty harsh criticism of someone's logical powers, so it should be applied directly only in extreme circumstances and indirectly only with cause. "What she is saying sounds fine but if you think for a minute, you see that it is non sequitur." (não tem lógica / não é lógico / não faz sentido) Or, as a noun: "If his non sequiturs (foras?) weren't so funny, he would be a detriment to the negotiations."

Source: YourDictionary

HOPEFULLY

(adverb): In a manner characterized by a combination of desire and expectation.
--------Constructions like "Hopefully, it won't rain" are often condemned because such statements contain nothing capable of hope for the adverb to modify. But it is odd that similar constructions using "frankly," "sadly" and "mercifully" are likely to pass without comment—"hopefully" has for some reason been singled out for disapprobation. Although there is now general acceptance that such "sentence adverbs" may be used to indicate the speaker's frame of mind, you may wish to avoid them if your speech or writing is going to be critically scrutinized.
--------The noun and verb "hope" are parents to the adjective "hopeful" and its opposite "hopeless," and their associated nouns "hopefulness" and "hopelessness."
-------- "Hopefully, I'll be in the casino tonight." (You wouldn't go if you weren't hopeful.) But beware that a sentence adverb can be misinterpreted if people are the subject of your sentence: "They're to be married, hopefully, in the spring." (Do you hope for a spring wedding, or is their betrothal to be founded on nothing more than hope?)
Source:YourDictionary

9.04.2009

GOSSIP / GRAPEVINE / SCUTTLEBUTT / HEARSAY / WORD / TALK / RUMOR (NOUN)

fofoca, conversa fiada, bisbilhotice, mexerico, rádio peão, rumor
Gossip: Rumor or talk of a personal, sensational, or intimate nature. A person who habitually spreads intimate or private rumors or facts. Trivial, chatty talk or writing. A close friend or companion. Chiefly British: A godparent.
------"Gossip is when you hear something you like about someone, you don't." - Earl Wilson
------“The only time people dislike gossip is when you gossip about them”.
------"Gossip is the art of saying nothing in a way that leaves practically nothing unsaid." -
Walter Winchell
------"It is perfectly monstrous the way people go about nowadays saying things against one, behind one's back, that are absolutely and entirely true." - Oscar Wilde
------"There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." - Oscar Wilde
------"Show me someone who never gossips, and I will show you someone who is not interested in people." - Barbara Walters
Grapevine: The informal transmission of information, gossip, or rumor from person to person. usually unrevealed source of confidential information.
------“Heard it through/on the grapevine.”
Scuttlebutt: The drinking fountain aboard a ship; (colloquial U.S.) idle gossip, rumor emanating from the water cooler. On shore, the word is used widely as a synonym for gossip but should be restricted to the gossip likely to be picked up at the water cooler or fountain. Today's word has no correlate verb or adjective. Remember, this word is not a synonym of "gossip" and should be restricted to the office (or on board ship), places which afford drinking fountains or water coolers.
------"Raymond, scuttlebutt has it you are in line for a big transmotion." "Have you heard the scuttlebutt about the boss's wife? They say she had one facelift too many and now every time she sits down she grins."
gossip, blab, tattle (verb). These verbs mean to engage in or communicate idle, indiscreet talk: gossiping about the neighbors; can't keep a secret—he always blabs; is disliked for tattling on mischief-makers.
Sources: YourDictionary.com/Answers.com