Brazil

Inside Westminster Abbey, eight 20-foot-tall live trees lined the center aisle during the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William. The trees transformed the space, doing what even the most elaborate floral arrangement could not — providing a natural, living sense of permanence and an air of drama. The move was unexpected, unpretentious and bold. A potted tree on your patio or deck can have the same effect. While not every tree is well-suited for a container, there are a surprising number of options, ranging from crape myrtles to hollies.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's chief of staff is spending the week in Brazil at the New Cities Summit in Sao Paulo, an international conference for business, government and education leaders.  Alexander M. Sanchez did not submit a request for approval for the trip to the city's Board of Estimates prior to leaving for the conference, which took place Tuesday through Thursday. In an email, Sanchez said such a request was unnecessary because a private organization was paying for his travel.

If you're a traveler looking for a budget-friendly destination, Brazil should be on your 2009 list. According to CheapTickets.com, Brazil offers savings of 58 percent in April, a time when the southern hemisphere's summer crowds have moved on, yet the warm weather still lingers. Most people think of Rio de Janeiro when they think of Brazil, but thanks to the arrival of low-cost air carriers, getting around Brazil is easier and more affordable than ever. Here are five things to do in Brazil: 1 Check out Carnival : This lively spectacle takes place in cities throughout Brazil, beginning in late February.

I have been engaged for a month and a half and already I feel so accomplished in terms of my wedding planning. Everyone I talk to tells me how on top of things I am, and it's so nice to hear because that is usually not me at all.  When it comes to cleaning or school work I have always been the biggest procrastinator. I wonder now why I haven't been so organized with all aspects of life, but, then, let's be real: Planning a wedding and my future with the love of my life is way more exciting than studying or vacuuming the house.

On Sunday, May 6, 2007, NICHOLAS P., son of Antoinette Pace Brazil and the late Edgar Francis Brazil, Sr., husband of Kathleen Brooks Brazil, brother and brother-in-law of Anna Marie and Henry Niemczyk, Edgar Jr., and Patsy Brazil, John J., and Debra Brazil, Albert W., and Diane Brazil and Michael and Deborah Brazil, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Christine and Louis Fiorucci and Mark and Brenda Brooks. Also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at the Pritts Funeral Home and Chapel, 412 Washington Road, Westminster on Thursday at 11 A.M. Interment will be in the Bel Air Memorial Gardens.

Fernando Collor de Mello is the only president Brazil has, the best available and, upon his election two years ago, the first chosen by the people in three decades. He came in on a tidal wave of enthusiasm for youth and free market solutions to the great South American country's daunting problems. Too bad that, one week before the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro casts the world spotlight on his vibrant and ecologically crucial country, the wheels are coming off his cart.There was the sexual scandal between cabinet ministers, which made his swinging image grist for comedians.

On November 12, 2003, A. D. "Al"; beloved husband of Carmella J. Brazil (nee Capizzi); devoted father of Sharon L. Madsen, Dennis A. and Larry S. Brazil; loving grandfather of five and great-grandfather of two. Friends may call at the JOHNSON FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 8521 Loch Raven Blvd., (beltway exit 29), on Friday, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M., where family and friends are invited to attend Prayers, on Saturday, at 10 A.M. Interment Parkwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his memory to VA Maryland Health Care System, Perry Point Division, Bldg 361, Perry Point, MD 21902.

The political jolt being applied to Brazil's fragile democracy is worse than if John F. Kennedy had been hauled before our House Judiciary Committee accused of taking bribes.A popular, reformist young president in Brazil faces formal condemnation by a congressional panel tomorrow. Even if he staves off the impeachment that is likely to follow, Fernando Collor de Mello is already a political cripple, unable to push through his ambitious plans to pull Brazil out of its economic morass. If he is forced from office, there is no Lyndon Johnson in the Brazilian vice presidency to carry out a fallen president's program.

It takes courage to do what Francisco Collor de Mello has done. He is the young playboy governor who won the presidential election in Brazil last December on a promise to free the market and keep out his leftist-unionist opponent. As the second civilian and first freely elected president after a long period of military dictatorship, he was bound to find skeletons. He found nuclear ones, specifically a 15-year-old military program to develop nuclear weapons outside of domestic or international surveillance.

CURTISS C. BRAZIL, an IEP Team Associate within the Baltimore City school system, passed away suddenly on Monday, January 22, 2007 at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He previously worked in several schools in Baltimore County and Washington, DC. He is survived by two brothers in Akron, Ohio and a host of friends and relatives all over the globe. Viewing/funeral services will be Saturday, January 27, at 10am in Akron, Ohio. Stewart & Calhoun Funeral Home, 529 West Thornton Street, Akron, OH 44307, 330 535-1543, Fax: 330 535-3162.

WEDNESDAY'S TELEVISION HIGHLIGHTS MLB Orioles@Tampa Bay (T) MASN8:30 a.m. Kansas City@White Sox WGN-A2 Boston@Yankees ESPN27 Miami@Washington MASN7 Orioles@Tampa Bay MASN27 San Francisco@Dodgers ESPN210 Orioles@Tampa Bay (T) MASN11:30 C. base. Nebraska-Omaha@Kansas State FCS7:30 NCAA m. Michigan vs. Florida (T) CBSSNNoon S. Dakota State vs. Michigan (T) CBSSN2 VCU vs. Michigan (T)

Dick Van Dyke brought his characteristic charm to the SAG Awards this weekend, and Internet users dutifully searched for all sorts of details on him -- anything to distract us from the icy weather that caused school closings from here to Ann Arbor.  Another top distraction this weekend was this year's edition of the Royal Rumble , covered for The Baltimore Sun from Arizona by blogger Arda Orcal. Links to full details are below. || ONLINE TRENDS || School closings (Google search, Twitter)

IndyCar driver Tony Kanaan is sitting beside his best friend and teammate Rubens Barrichello. Together they are talking about the value of friendship and how important it is to separate competitiveness from what is most important in life. It is then Kanaan, the 2004 IndyCar Series champion, recalls a plane ride this season that occurred after he had finished ahead of Barrichello, in his first season of IndyCar racing after 19 years in Formula 1. "Eduardo, Rubens' oldest son, is sitting beside me on the plane," Kanaan, 37, said.

As the world struggles to deal with its two largest foreign-affairs dilemmas, Syria and Iran, resolutely standing in the way are the BRICs. That's the acronym foreign-policy wonks use for the block of nations that routinely refuses to join the multilateral world of diplomacy, dominated by the United States and the West. They seem to glory in being contrary. The nations are Brazil, Russia, India and China. Russia and China, of course, routinely veto any United Nations Security Council resolution criticizing Syria, as they did for the third time last week.

Entering the summer, Maryland men's basketball coach Mark Turgeon knew he had two pretty good options regarding Jake Layman's immediate future. Either the promising, 6-foot-8 forward would join the Terps for summer workouts, allowing him to bond with future teammates. Or else the incoming freshman would make the USA Men's Under-18 Team, potentially gaining valuable experience playing against international opponents. The latter scenario unfolded, giving Maryland bragging rights to a player who is using the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship to showcase his varied skills.

Jake Layman 's selection to USA Basketball's U-18 team shouldn't be a surprise any more. After the first weekend of play at the FIBA Americas U-18 Championship, the future Terp answered all questions about his place on the national team. On Sunday, Layman scored a game-high 18 points to lead the U.S. to a 110-59 win over Mexico in Sao Sebastiáo do Paraiso, Brazil.  “Jake Layman gave us really good 3-point shooting and obviously our frontcourt did a great job on the glass," U.S. and Florida Gators coach Billy Donovan said in a news release . When we subbed everybody today contributed and gave us really good minutes.

Half the Brazilians in a public opinion poll conducted last summer could not identify Itamar Franco as their vice president. Shortly before he became acting president, on Oct. 2, only 18 percent thought he had the capacity to resolve the country's problems. By the time he was sworn in as president for the remaining two years of his predecessor's five-year term, Tuesday, that figure was up to 58 percent.What Mr. Franco did in the interim was very little. It included no major speeches. Whether this former supporter of state intervention, who opposed President Fernando Collor de Mello's rapid privatization of the economy, will reverse, slow or fulfill those reforms is sheer conjecture.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- It was going to be so much fun. Oscar Schmidt and Marcel De Souza were going to fulfill their long-standing dream of playing against the great American professionals. There would be a vast TV audience in Brazil. It would be one of the highlights of their lives.Instead, Brazil will play Puerto Rico today, not in the Tournament of the Americas final. The Brazilians forgot to take care of the necessary business Friday night, losing a 10-point second half lead, missing 13 consecutive shots down the stretch and eventually losing to Venezuela, 100-91.

Maryland signee Jake Layman will represent the United States in Brazil starting this weekend. Layman, a 6-foot-8 small forward, made the final cut for USA Basketball's 12-man U18 team . The future Terp will continue training with the U.S. team in Colorado Springs, Colo., before departing Tuesday for Sao Sebastiáo do Paraiso, Brazil -- home of the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. Team USA opens FIBA play against the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday at 1 p.m., followed by a game against Mexico on Sunday at 1 p.m., and Brazil next Monday at 5 p.m. Semifinals are set for June 19, with the gold-medal game scheduled for June 20. Check out video of Layman, who averaged 26.5 points, 15 rebounds and 5.8 blocks as a senior at King Philip High in Wrentham, Mass., from Colorado Springs below.

The list of Brazilian soccer legends began with the incomparable Pele, who as a 17-year-old led his country to the first of five World Cups in 1958. It has continued, nearly unabated, for a half-century. Now, it's Neymar's star turn. The 20-year-old striker, who in his short career has made a habit of scoring goals against the U.S. whenever the two countries meet, lived up to his advance billing Wednesday night with a goal and two assists in leading Brazil to a 4-1 victory over the Americans in front of 67,619 fans at FedEx Field.