NADISMO

Criado pelo designer Marcelo Bohrer, o Cubo Vazio é mais que um objeto que sinaliza o local dos eventos do Clube de Nadismo. É um símbolo do precioso espaço vazio que é cada vez mais difícil de encontrar na nossa vida acelerada. Também foi projetado para proporcionar uma experiência mais intensa do nadismo. É possível sentar no seu interior ficando assim isolado das agitações do mundo exterior.
       "Rita Lee tinha razão quando disse que "nada melhor do que não fazer nada". Leia mais sobre o Nadismo aqui: 
        http://www.clubedenadismo.com.br/
        http://www.bolsademulher.com/mundomelhor/nadismo-101401.html
Pois é: vou praticar o nadismo por umas duas horas. Depois tenho umas cartas (letters rogatory) rogando para serem traduzidas.
Tico e Teco desligando...
OFF
OFF

PACE CAR = SAFETY CAR = CARRO MADRINHA

Safety car = Carro de segurança, é acionado após um acidente que coloque os pilotos em perigo. Quando o safety car entra na pista, as ultrapassagens são proibidas e os carros formam uma fila indiana atrás dele. Na Fórmula Indy, é chamado de “Pace Car”, mas tem a mesma função.

Read the history of the U.S. National Anthem THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner
Hear it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI9s4kYh5J8&feature=related

HIGH STREET = MAIN STREET = FRONT STREET = FORE STREET = MARKET STREET = KING STREET = QUEEN STREET

High Street (UK)
Main Street (USA)
Front Street (Jamaica, USA, North East England)
Fore Street (Cornwall, Devon)
Market Street (Lancashire)
King Street / Queen Street (Canada)
           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. However in recent times, the phrase "high street banks" has been widely used to refer to the retail banking sector [The City] in the United Kingdom.
           E.g.: I use only products bought on the high street.
Qual seria a "rua do comércio" de São Paulo? A Rua 25 de Março?
Brasília: Não tem (há algumas, mas na periferia, não no centro)
Londres: Oxford Street

ADIVINHE QUEM VEIO PARA FICAR: "APAGÃO"

OESP: "Sem conseguir resolver o apagão na articulação política do Planalto..."
            Bem, tenho um apagão para resolver agora: o que fazer para o jantar... E você, já resolveu o seu apagão de hoje? A gramática está causando... (mais um [eu causo, tu causas, nós causamos... ou nóis causa?] que tenta entrar para a norma culta e bela)...
Revista VEJA: "Apagão de mão de obra" Pois é...

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

"Cultural differences- viewed by the British- "Don´t Mention the war" from "Harper’s Magazine
(...) From a series of “market profiles” by VisitBritain, the official UK tourism bureau, in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, these guides are meant to help British businesses “provide an even more efficient and helpful customer service that takes account of cultural needs”.
- Cleanliness is of major importance to Austrians.
- The Portuguese take great pride in wearing good fabrics and clothes of the best standard they can afford.
- New Zealanders are accustomed to high-pressure showers, not a weak dribble from a nozzle, and are also used to gallons and gallons of hot water being available.
- Although Italians give little care to public places, they are scrupulously clean in their own homes.
- Don’t be offended by Argentine humor, which may mildly attack your clothing or weight.
- Canadians often identify themselves as Canadian by wearing a maple-leaf pin or a maple leaf on their clothing.
- Czechs are very sensitive to price changes.
- Brazilians do not travel lightly.
- Don’t ask personal questions to a Brazilian.
- As a nation, Germans are interested in many things; however, football, cars, travel, culture, their homes, and getting a good deal are some of the most important.
- The Dutch have a strong desire to order their time in agendas and on calendars.
- Mexicans drink huge quantities of soft drinks and beer. Good conversational topics are Mexican culture, history, museums. Never discuss the Mexican American War, poverty, aliens, or earthquakes.
- Avoid discussing personal matters or linguistic divisions with Belgians.
- Malaysians dislike walking long distances and are likely not to be very active.
- Nordic people like to get close to the “natives.”
- The Japanese (particularly women) could be said to have a childlike air to them.
- Russians love the English sense of humor and believe it is very similar to the Russian one.
- The South African sense of humor is based more on American slapstick comedy than on British wit and play on words. Therefore they may struggle to understand the “joke.”
- The Dutch hardly ever invite people with whom they are not closely acquainted for dinner.
- Spaniards use utensils to eat most food. Even fruit is eaten with a knife and fork!
- Thais are generally aware of the Four Seasons restaurant (for the crispy duck), and the Blue Elephant Thai restaurant in London.
- The French will begin eating only after someone says “bon appétit.”
- Koreans do not like to talk a lot during dinner.
- If an Arab stares you in the eye as you speak, it means that he is giving you his full attention. If he doesn’t, it means that he may not care what you are saying.
- If an Arab bites his right finger, it is a sign of contempt, and this will usually be accompanied by muttering.
- Mexicans use a “psst-psst” sound to catch another’s attention.
- Russians may come across as cold and not very open or polite people.
- The Dutch do not believe in lining up and show almost no consideration in public for a person’s status, gender, or age.
- In America, time is a very important commodity. People “save” time and “spend” time as if it were money in the bank.
- Belgians tend to be indirect.
- Nordic people are often very conscious of environmental issues.
- Indians do not like to express “no.” Rather than disappoint you, for example, by saying something isn’t available, Indians may give an affirmative answer but be deliberately vague about any specific details.
- Koreans are not Chinese.
http://www.loveandculture.net/Documents/144/cultural-differences-viewed-by-the-british-dont-mention-the-war-from-harpers-magazine

MISCOMMUNICATION

What Paddington tells us about German v British manners
          Are Germans ruder than the British? Are Britons more dishonest than Germans? Fortunately, we don't have to rely on blind prejudice for answers. Serious academic research has been done on both sides of the North Sea.
          “'Hallo Mrs Bird,' said Judy. 'How's the rheumatism?'”
          This doesn't appear in German editions of "A Bear called Paddington".
[This is "small talk", empty phrases not used by Germans and, therefore, the translation into German omits it]
          There are Britons in Berlin who get taken aback by the directness of Germans. And there are Germans who get really annoyed when Britons (and Americans), in an effort to appear friendly, say things they don't really mean. Some Germans call this "lying".
(...)     So this exchange of small talk occurs in the English original: "'Hallo Mrs Bird,' said Judy. 'It's nice to see you again. How's the rheumatism?' 'Worse than it's ever been' began Mrs. Bird."
          In the German edition, this passage is simply cut.
(...)    For their part, the British have what House calls the "etiquette of simulation". The British feign an interest in someone. They pretend to want to meet again when they don't really. They simulate concern.
          Saying things like "It's nice to meet you" are rarely meant the way they are said, she says. "It's just words. It's simulating interest in the other person."
          From a German perspective, this is uncomfortably close to deceit.
(...)     There are many documented cases where the British understate a very serious problem with phrases like "there seem to be one or two problems here" or "there seems to be a little bit of an issue with this", he says.
(...)      Sometimes it's endearing, or at least the British think it is, as when this announcement was made by British Airways pilot Eric Moody in 1982, after flying through a cloud of volcanic ash over Indonesia:
          "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress."
          But it can also be confusing if you're not used to it.
          When BMW bought the British car manufacturer, Rover, it took a while for the seriousness of some of the problems at Rover to sink in. All too often, British managers spoke in euphemisms that their German counterparts took at face value.
(...)      "When I worked for a Dutch bank in London ten years ago, Dutch employees working in London were given a (humourous) memo with three columns listing phrases the British used, how the Dutch interpreted those phrases, and what the British really meant. E.g. "that's not bad" was interepreted by the Dutch as being negative, when it was actually meant to be encouraging."

Read the full article and comments at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13545386

DUE TO, BECAUSE OF & OWING TO: Just cause

Guideline: Use these phrases interchangeably, but be prepared to defend your use of due to when it follows an action verb.
         A closer look: Due to fell into disrespect in the early 1900s, when grammarians decided it was an adjective and therefore could not modify an action verb. Some usage authorities still hold that position, but the modern view is that due to is a prepositional phrase and can therefore be used wherever you feel like using it.
         My sunburn today is due to my falling asleep in the noonday sun yesterday. (Due to is standard here because it follows a linking verb, is.)
         I didn't sleep a wink last night due to [or because of or owing to] the noise created by the flamenco dancers who live above me.
Source: ProofreadNOW

AS, BECAUSE & SINCE: Ongoing problem

Guideline: Use because or since when you might otherwise say "the reason being." Use as when you would otherwise use "during."
E.g.:  I didn't hear any of the commotion that went on last night because [the reason being] I was fast asleep.
         I didn't get a chance to see any of the finalists as [during the time] they were marching by very quickly.
Different from:   I didn't get a chance to see any of the finalists because [the reason being] they were marching by very quickly.
Source: ProofreadNOW

DIFFERENT FROM & DIFFERENT THAN: Marked distinctions

Guideline: Favor different from in most cases, but keep in mind that different than is now considered acceptable in many situations.
E.g.: Morris is different from the way I imagined he would be, based on his photograph.
But:
The situation is a lot different today than it was just yesterday during the slalom competition. (The alternative here would be wordier: "The situation is a lot different today from the way it was yesterday during the slalom competition.")
Source> ProofreadNOW

What's Written vs. What's Meant on a student's essay!

IT HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN… = I haven't bothered to look up the original reference.
IT IS NOT UNREASONABLE TO ASSUME… = If you believe this, you'll believe anything.
OF GREAT THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL IMPORTANCE = Interesting to me.
WHILE IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE DEFINITE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS… = The experiments didn't work out, but I figured I could get publicity out of it.
THREE OF THE SAMPLES WERE CHOSEN FOR DETAILED STUDY = The results on the others didn't make sense, and were ignored.
TYPICAL RESULTS ARE SHOWN = The best results are shown.
PRESUMABLY AT LONGER TIMES… = I didn't take the time to find out.
THESE RESULTS WILL BE REPORTED AT A LATER DATE = I might get around to this sometime.
THE MOST RELIABLE VALUES ARE THOSE OF JONES = He was a student/supervisor of mine.
IT IS BELIEVED THAT… = I think.
IT IS GENERALLY ACCEPTED THAT... = A guy in a bar once agreed with me.
IT IS WIDESPREAD KNOWLEDGE THAT... = Two guys in a bar agreed with me.
IT IS UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED THAT... = The bartender agreed too
IT MIGHT BE ARGUED THAT… = I have such a good answer for this objection that I shall now raise it.
IT IS CLEAR THAT MUCH ADDITIONAL WORK WILL BE REQUIRED BEFORE A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING… = I don't understand.
CORRECT WITH IN AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE = Wrong.
IT IS TO BE HOPED THAT THIS WORK WILL STIMULATE FURTHER WORK IN THE FIELD = This paper is not very good, but neither are any of the others on this miserable subject.
THANKS ARE DUE TO X FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE EXPERIMENT AND TO Y FOR VALUABLE DISCUSSIONS = X did the work, and Y explained it to me.
OF GREAT PRACTICAL IMPORTANCE… = I can get some mileage out of it.
IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE DEFINITIVE ANSWERS… = The experiment was negative, but at least I can publish the data somewhere.
THESE INVESTIGATIONS PROVED HIGHLY REWARDING… = My grant is going to be renewed.
FASCINATING WORK... = Work by a member of our group.
OF DOUBTFUL SIGNIFICANCE... = it was done by someone else.
TRIVIAL... = It took me a whole week to figure it out.
DATA HAVE BEEN NORMALISED... = You wouldn't believe the numbers I got.
STATISTICAL ANALYSES REVEAL... = I had to lie a bit.
DATA PROCESSING PROCEDURES WERE IMPLEMENTED... = I had to lie a lot.
I SHOULD LIKE TO THANK… = Please put in a good word for me with the examiners.

"A cada dia que vivo, mais me convenço de que o desperdício da vida está no amor que não damos, nas forças que não usamos, na prudência egoísta que nada arrisca, e que, esquivando-nos do sofrimento, perdemos também a felicidade."  (Carlos Drummond de Andrade)

A TYPICAL ENGLISH SUNDAY

                Café da manhã inglês: Salsichas (tipo linguiça), feijão com molho de tomate, ovo, purê ou
                panquequinha de batata, tomate assado/grelhado, cogumelos, black pudding (chouriço), torradas,
                chá/café, leite. Hoje em dia, durante a semana, muitos ingleses comem apenas uma tigela de
               cereal com leite no café da manhã e almoçam um sanduíche (por ser mais prático).

O prato típico de domingo é "Roastbeef with Yorkshire Pudding" (carne assada servida com legumes ou "mashed peas" [purê de ervilhas ligeiramente amassadas] molho [gravy] e Yorshire pudding [parece pão de queijo, é uma espécie de massa de panqueca, despejada em forminhas quentes com um pouquinho de óleo e assadas).

No jantar, "fish'n'chips" com vinagre de malte (tipo de vinagre tinto) sobre as batatas fritas e mashed peas.

ANGLO-EU TRANSLATION GUIDE

CLAUSE CONSTRUCTION - LEGAL WRITING

When drafting a clause which must incorporate a right or obligation, it is worth remembering the time-honoured principle of clause construction developed by George Coode, in which he suggested a logical order for clause construction.

Drafter's Tip: 
1. Refer to any exceptions first: e.g.“Subject to…”
2. Next, set out the circumstances or conditions upon which the legal right or obligation
depends, using the present tense: e.g.“If A does… and B does …”
3. Third, set out the right or obligation using the active voice and avoiding the passive (opposite of active; in grammar, the form of verb used to indicate that the subject is the recipient of the action. Passive: "The law was passed." Active: "Parliament passed the law."): e.g.“A shall do 1,2,3, and 4.”
4. Finally, put the provision into paragraphs and give it a heading (a title for a page, chapter or, here, a clause in a contract).

For example, in the context of a loan document, a provision allowing a borrower to draw money if the conditions precedent (a condition which must be performed before the other party is obligated to perform) have been satisfied, that is, notice has been granted in the required form, and no event of default has occurred, might be drafted as:

“Heading: 7. Availability of the loan
Subject to no event of default having occurred under clause 5, if:
(a) Borrower has satisfied all the conditions precedent listed in clause 4; and
(b) Borrower has delivered to the agent a notice of drawdown in accordance with clause 11;
Lender shall make available to the Borrower a term loan facility up to a maximum amount of $10,000,000.”
Source: Legal Writing

SUPERINJUNCTION

UK 'Superinjunction' Bans Anyone From Identifying Plaintiff In Libel Case
                The UK's ongoing attack on free speech continues, with a judge issuing a "superinjunction" against anyone in the UK identifying who "Mr Z" is in a libel case.
                O termo acima foi traduzido por um grande jornal brasileiro como "superinjunção".  Esse é mais um caso de 'neologismo' - se o real significado da palavra não é conhecido, é só aportuguesar...

TIOPÊS: O novo idioma da internet

"Vose já olvil falr niço?
Calma, a frase acima não está escrita em português, mas sim em tiopês, um “idioma” surgido na internet" (http://vejasp.abril.com.br/noticias/vose-ja-olvil-falr-nico)
Escreva e traduza aqui para Tiopês: http://www.tiopestranslator.cjb.net/
Ex.: Quando a "velha guarda" morrer, não vai mais ser preciso falar ou traduzir corretamente - ninguém vai entender mesmo e nem saber do que vc está falando - o mundo vai voltar aos grunhidos! > Quanod a "velia guarda" moerrr, -n vai mas ser precios falr ol traduzr direito - ninguém vai entendr mesmo e nem sabr do qe vc está falanod - vams voltr aos gruniids!!!!!!1111

GARDEN LEAVE > AFASTAMENTO REMUNERADO

Garden leave (or "gardening leave") [ficar na geladeira?] describes the practice whereby an employee who is leaving a job (having resigned or otherwise had their employment terminated) is instructed to stay away from work during their notice period [aviso prévio], while still remaining on the payroll. This practice is often used to prevent employees from taking with them up-to-date (and perhaps sensitive) information when they leave their current employer, especially when they are leaving to join a competitor.
              Employees continue to receive their normal pay during garden leave and are covered by any contractual duties, such as confidentiality agreements, until their notice period expires.
             The term can also be used when an employee is sent home whilst subject to disciplinary proceedings, when they are between projects, or where, as a result of publicity, their presence at work is considered counter-productive. [suspensão remunerada]
             The term is frequently used in Formula One motor racing to describe what happens when valued technical staff choose to move between teams. In an attempt to prevent proprietary information about performance and design falling into competitors' hands, the engineer in question is placed on garden leave, sometimes for many months, to ensure that when he is finally able to join his new employer his knowledge is no longer current (or useful).

BRAVE NEW WORD WORLD

A cada dia vemos novos termos surgindo, enquanto outros caem no esquecimento.  Antigamente, interrupção de energia era chamado "blecaute" [anglicismo]. Agora é "apagão".
            Na esteira (in the wake of) do apagão, agora temos: apagão de talentos (em recursos humanos), apagão aéreo (ou seja, 'caos' aéreo devido a infraestrutura deficiente dos aeroportos).
            No começo da Era da Internet começou a ser aventado "teletrabalho", "teletrabalhador". Por um tempo parecia que isso não iria "pegar". Mas eis que agora vemos nas publicações: telepresença, teletrabalhador, telefuncionário, telessala [juro!].

FRIDAY THE 13TH

Friday the 13th occurs when the thirteenth day of a month falls on a Friday, which superstition holds to be a day of bad luck. Any month's 13th day will fall on a Friday if the month starts on a Sunday.
              
A BAD-LUCK GUIDE TO FRIDAY THE 13TH - THINGS TO AVOID
Breaking a Mirror: Seven Years of Bad Luck
Putting Your Left Foot on the Floor When You First Wake Up
Walking Under a Ladder
Spilling Salt
Opening an Umbrella Indoors
Leaving Your Purse on the Floor
A Black Cat Crossing Your Path
Dropping a Knife and Picking It Up

COMFORTER / DUVET / EDREDOM / QUILT

O inverno vem aí e está chegando a hora de tirar os edredons do armário!

 A duvet is a type of bedding — a soft flat bag traditionally filled with down or feathers, or a combination of both, and used on a bed as a blanket.  Although comforters go on top of the traditional sheets and blankets, duvets are used by themselves. (Na verdade, "duvet" na Inglaterra é uma fronha gigante para o edredom). The term "Duvet day" is used in some countries to describe an allowance of one or more days a year when employees can simply phone in and say that they are not coming in to work, even though they have no leave booked and are not ill. The provision of this benefit became fashionable in the late 1990s with many larger companies in the UK.

           (In the US, confusion often occurs as the word "duvet" is sometimes used to refer to a comforter cover rather than the down blanket itself.  For example, this is how the term is used by a large retailer: "For those of you enjoying a down comforter, or even just looking for a change for your bedroom, a duvet could be the perfect answer. Since you will be placing your comforter inside the duvet, it is important that the appropriate size be selected.")

          In Australia, particularly in eastern regions, a duvet or down quilt is often called a "Doona".
         A COMFORTER (American English) is a type of blanket. Comforters are intended to keep the user warm, especially during sleep, although they can also be used as mattress pads. Comforters are generally large and rectangular in shape, filled with natural or synthetic insulative material and encased in a shell/covering. Like quilts, comforters are generally used with a set of bed sheets.
        A QUILT is a type of bed cover, traditionally composed of three layers of fiber: a woven cloth top, a layer of batting or wadding and a woven back, combined using the technique of quilting. “Quilting” refers to the technique of joining at least two fabric layers by stitches or ties.
        EIDERDOWN: Genuine British Eiderdowns made in the traditional way with feather & down or grey duck down filling and giving that typically British country house/traditional bedroom look.
Edredom = edredão = acolchoado = almadraque = goderim

SITUATION

Situation (n): Position or status with regard to conditions and circumstances. The combination of circumstances at a given moment; a state of affairs. A critical, problematic, or striking set of circumstances. The way in which something is positioned vis-à-vis its surroundings. The place in which something is situated; a location. A position of employment; a post.
situation room: area at headquarters through which latest reports are channeled.
            A foto mostra o presidente dos EUA com seus assessores, acompanhando a ação no Paquistão, todos na "Situation Room" [Sala de Acompanhamento de Crises / Emergências] [?]
           Um comercial de um conhecido ator sobre a matança de animais começa assim: "We have a situation here" [Temos um problema aqui.]

"A HALF-BAKED RESPONSE" = "RESPOSTA/SOLUÇÃO MEIA-BOCA"?

adj. 1.Only partly baked. 2.Informal. Insufficiently thought out; ill-conceived: a half-baked scheme. 3.Informal. Exhibiting a lack of good judgment or common sense: a half-baked visionary.
        "Short Courses: A half-baked response to training needs?"
        "... that kind of half-hearted, half-baked response is not going to work in the future"
        "Lawyer accuses Judge of 'Half-Baked Findings' in Response to Sanctions Threat".
       "At a House of Representatives hearing in Washington on Wednesday, Republican ABC, who heads the Commerce Committee's Consumer Protection Panel, condemned XYZ for a "half-baked response" towards warning 100m users that credit card details and passwords might have been stolen."

ADVÉRBIO E SUFIXO

Não custa lembrar: Havendo dois ou mais advérbios terminados em -mente, numa mesma frase, somente se coloca o sufixo no último deles. Ainda, nenhum advérbio com essa terminação é acentuado.
Exemplo: Ele agiu rápida, porém acertadamente. A decisão foi amigável e favoravelmente transmitida.
Fonte: www.gramaticaonline.com.br

TAP WATER x SPARKLING/STILL MINERAL WATER

Tap water is drinking water which comes from an indoor tap or spigot. It is part of a larger indoor plumbing system which requires a complex supportive infrastructure including a stable water source, piping, and water filtration to keep the water safe.
Switching from bottled to tap water - Water safety FAQs - How safe is UK tap water?

UK tap water is among the safest in the world. Independent tests show UK tap water is among the safest in the world. The Drinking Water Inspectorate reported a 99.96% compliance with standards by UK water companies in 2006. Contamination is rare, usually caused by local pollution, such as old pipes, not the water supply.
Uk Restaurants urged to serve free tap water - Sim, é bastante comum clientes [patrons] pedirem uma jarra com água de torneira em restaurantes. Restaurants should offer free tap water - Restaurants are pushing diners into buying expensive bottled water, instead of offering them tap water for free, according to the Government's consumer watchdog. Some restaurants in Mayfair, London, are offering water at £50 a litre and even at chain restaurants a litre of water can cost £3.80. Nine out of 10 restaurants are pushing patrons to spend on so-called designer waters instead of serving free tap water, according to the National Consumer Council. Under the Supply of Goods & Services Act restaurants have to supply water along with a meal, but they are allowed to charge for it, even if it is just tap water. Only one per cent of restaurants in London always offer free tap water, before suggesting bottled.
Carbonated water (also known as club soda, soda water, sparkling water, seltzer, or fizzy water) is a blanket term for water in which carbon dioxide gas has been dissolved. This creates carbonation, or bubbles. Sparkling water may be plain, or may be flavored or have nutrients or salts added.

 

When in France… Drink Tap Water

That’s right, if you want to “do as the French do” on your next trip to Paris or Provence, better put down that bottle of Evian and grab a glass of cold stuff straight from the faucet. Sparkling water on tap is a fantasy come true... if I was to move to Paris tomorrow. I love fizzy water - can't get enough of the stuff - but, for reasons of temperance and economy, limit myself to one 750ml bottle per day (except weekends). But if I was to move to the 12th arrondissement I would have free unlimited access to ''La Petillante'' - literally, she who sparkles - a public fountain that gushes freely with chilled bubbles. How civilised is that?

BELIEVE IT OR NOT:

Sep 22, 2010 – Eco-conscious Parisians can now get their sparkling water free and in unlimited supply at a new public drinking fountain installed by city authorities, which aims to wean consumers off bottled water and onto tap.
            Unveiled on Tuesday in the Jardin de Reuilly park in the east of the city by publicly owned water company Eau de Paris, the fountain injects carbon dioxide into regular tap water to make it bubbly, and chills it before delivering it to consumers. Separate faucets also provide a still version of the beverage, both refrigerated and unrefrigerated, and again pumped directly from the city’s own public water supply
Sources: The Guardian, The Telegraph and Reuters

ENGLISH TEA

    Cake Stand              Salmon/Cucumber sandwiches    Scones with cream and jam

We went to Harvey Nichols' fifth floor tearoom to have an afternoon English Tea. This place caters mostly to locals. If you ask a British which place serves the best English tea you will hear: the Brown Hotel, the Ritz Hotel, etc. But these are not everyday places to have an English tea. They are very expensive. At Harvey Nichols (which is a department store) you can order a cake stand (a three-tiered tray with cucumber, egg and salmon sandwiches, scones and tartes, macaroons) and an extra cup. For two people, this is more than enough (although my daughter thinks the place has no tradition, I find it very charming: while you drink tea you have a view of the old domes of London).
            The Brits cherish everything old, very old. I even read somewhere that one of the Parliament members, to emphasize that a certain person had no history, said: "He is the kind of person who has to buy his own furniture!"
            Besides the tearooms, London has many champagne bars. They are everywhere. I asked why there were so many of them. And I was told they were there for you to celebrate anything very special - e.g.: being alive! Anyway, they are not my cup of tea.