Reading your "Red Tape Addiction" article in the November issue made me stop and reflect on my days while I lived in New York City: the circus at the Department of Motor Vehicles in New York produced an atmosphere where the civil service employees almost said that they were doing you a favor. Mister, so just wait...
It seems that bureaucracy is a built-in ingredient of government. I underlined the fact that the Brazilian government has on its staff a Venetian blind technician, among others. Would you believe that, while in `the States', I was dealing with the use of Venetian blinds for a different purpose, and I am looking for some guidance in this field.
Please be advised that I do not condone bureaucracy, but if this person `specializes' in Venetian blind knowledge, I would like to contact him/her -- my inquiry may help make his position more credible. I will really appreciate it if you could advise me how to contact him by phone and/or fax. Even though I am not fluent in Portuguese, my Brazilian associate can perform that task. Thanks for a very interesting article.
Milton Volan
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
I'm currently working on a research paper for a class regarding Brazilian emigration all over the world, but especially in the United States. Because this is a relatively recent topic I haven't been able to find that much information to write about it. If possible, I'd really appreciate it if you could let me know if Brazzil has ever covered such topic, and if so, what issue was it published in.
In case the issue is very old, I'd appreciate it if you can let me know how to get ahold of one. I hope you understand why I would ask your staff for guidance: you seem to be extremely aware of our community in the US and about our concerns. Therefore, I'd really appreciate your help. A million thanks.
Priscilla Leite
University of California, Berkeley
It's a pleasure to write to you. I've been living in the US for 10 years and this was the first time I read something written about Brazilian women writers ("Paper Women", October '96). Your article made me rethink about the situation of Brazilians overseas and our lack of opportunity to read or know more about Brazilian literature.
I'm a student at Hayward University in the Department of Latin America Studies. For years I have been dreaming of starting a reading group in Portuguese dealing with Brazilian authors. Your article brought back this old dream and I'm now in the process of collecting ideas to put everything together. This letter is just to congratulate you and your effort to maintain the Brazilian culture so far way from home.
Tânia Davey
Hayward, California
Please renew my subscription, for which I am attaching a check. Let me congratulate you for the quality of your magazine, as far as content. I also hope that in the near future you can improve the quality of the printing. When you print white type over black background with illustration it becomes rather hard to read, at least for me.
An example of this is the article on feijoada (November '96). I had to squint so much to read it I almost stopped salivating over the dish. Thank you for meeting the need for information on Brazilian affairs for so many of us residing here. Best wishes for the season.
R. F. Bentes
Van Nuys, California
I am a student from Toronto and I am doing a project on Brazil. If you have any information regarding the current environmental issues in Brazil and what the government is doing about it, please send it to me.
Krista Zanni
Ontario, Canada
I'm so glad you know that there are some Americans out there who are completely apaixonados for Brazil. I spent five months there last year and now estou com muitas saudades for its beaches, buses, barracas, juices (maracujá), music, dances, people... Well, you get the picture. I miss everything.
Thanks for bringing a little piece of Brazil into my life. Even from up here in Beantown, I feel connected. Axé, paix, amor.
Elizabeth Mainzer, alias Bete
Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
Enclosed is my check for $3 to renew my subscription to Brazzil. I hope there will not be an interruption or that I will miss the next issue. I enjoy the magazine very much, and have encouraged others here on the East Coast to subscribe for your interesting features and reports on Brazilian life, culture and music. Keep up the good work!
Dennis R. Shaw
Falls Church, Virginia
I've just read on the Internet how wonderful you are and practically free. How much would it cost for a subscription to be sent to Paris, France? How could I pay you? Visa?
Pauline Ridel
Paris, France
A wonderful site! I've added a link to your site on the Kuykendall's Good Web Resources page of the African American Web Connection (http://www.aawc.com/aawc.html)
William Richard Jones
Austin, Texas
A short note to express my appreciation for all Bruce Gilman, you music editor, is doing to educate, honor, and promote the forces of Brazilian music. I will soon be launching what I hope will be the best WEB guide to the three big Carnaval of Brazil and we will include links to some of Brazzil's articles.
C. M. Collins
San Francisco, California
Just a short note to tell you what a pleasure it is to receive your magazine every month. My wife and I met in a Portuguese class at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and our interest in things Brazilian has grown ever since. Would you happen to know where we might find the sheet music for Ivan Lins' music? We are currently living in Panama, but travel frequently to both Brazil and the US. Take care and boa sorte!
Craig Allen
Panama City, Panama