Psalm Challenge 119

have kept with the weekly psalm challenge, a bite by bite, byte by byte, cyber religiosity meets worldwide friendships and spreading word of culture, beliefs, songs with universal meaning, no matter how your underlying belief systems is constructed, formed.
robert at daily athens was hosting and stopped not for lack of trying. his faithful hosting was an inspiration in itself. This is always dedicated to him and his family. like other bloggers i follow and have followed, i respect them all their viewpoints, perspectives, photos, reporting and rants.
so i have kept this up and will continue until i run out of numbers or steam, whichever is the precedent.
mary gerdt, monkton, vermont


Psalm Challenge 119

Psalm 119

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

 

119 In my trouble I cried to the Lord: and he heard me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

² O Lord, deliver my soul from wicked lips, and a deceitful tongue.

³ What shall be given to thee, or what shall be added to thee, to a deceitful tongue?

⁴ The sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals that lay waste.

⁵ Woe is me, that my sojourning is prolonged! I have dwelt with the inhabitants of cedar:

⁶ My soul hath been long a sojourner.

⁷ With them that hated peace I was peaceable: when I spoke to them they fought against me without cause.

 

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA) by Public Domain









addendum: photos from french-indian war reenactment. jasper sean our beloved little black lion, and a shadow box with this quote: "I think that feelings are wasted on words. I think they should be distilled into actions which bring results." Florence Nightingale

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Dolphins May Detect Fetus in Pregnant Women, Study Says

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. sound wave [sound-weyv] (n.) – a wave that transmits or carries sound

Example: Dolphins use sound waves to communicate under the water.

2. speculate [SPEK-yuh-leyt] (v.) – to think and guess about something without knowing the complete facts

Example: The scientists speculated that dolphins can communicate well with each other.

3. opaque [oh-PEYK] (adj.) – not transparent; does not allow light to pass through

Example: He covered the container with an opaque cap to protect it against sun light.

4. carnivore [KAHR-nuh-vawr, -vohr] (n.) – an animal that feeds on the flesh of other animals

Example:  Most carnivores have sharp teeth specialized for eating flesh.

5. anecdotal [AN-ik-doht-l, an-ik-DOHT-l] (adj.) – based on personal observation rather than facts

Example: Scientists did not agree with the report that was based on anecdotal testimonies.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Some scientists speculate that dolphins may be able to sense the fetus inside a pregnant woman. This phenomenon seems possible due to echolocation, an ability that helps dolphins navigate and communicate under water through sounds. It also helps these mammals identify shapes and locations of objects. It works very much like an ultrasound machine used by doctors to detect and see a developing human fetus inside a mother’s womb. Dolphins emit sound waves and listen to the echo to make sense of their environment.  According to Malcolm Nicolson from the University of Glasgow, dolphins may be able to detect the difference in the echo of a woman before and during pregnancy. Anecdotal evidence suggests that dolphins sometimes swim up to expectant mothers and make buzzing sounds near the women's stomachs. Also, neuroscientist [noor-oh-SAHY-uhn-tist, nyoor-] Lori Marino believes that dolphins may be able to use their sound waves to help diagnose and treat diseases since they can detect tumors in humans. However, further research is still needed to prove this claim. Previous studies have also shown that dolphins can perceive shapes through an opaque barrier, allowing them to distinguish a human form in a pregnant woman’s womb. However, experts stressed that giving birth near a dolphin may be highly dangerous and is therefore not recommended. Marino warned that giving birth near a dolphin is not advisable because dolphins are carnivores. Thus, dolphins can become instinctively aggressive, which may then risk the lives of the pregnant mother and her baby.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         In your opinion, is it really possible for dolphins to have such ability to see the fetus of a pregnant mother? Please explain your answer.

·         How can this kind of study help humans, as well as dolphins? Why do you think so?

Discussion B

·         Why do you think studying the behavior of marine animals and how they react around human is important?

·         In your opinion, what can be the disadvantages of studying the behavior of marine animals? Please explain your answer.

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Monkton Chronicles Archives

Monkton Chronicle Archives

Moving my running rant into a blog post. Tomorrow begins September 2013. Still get excited around school supplies even though I do not attend school anymore.

June/July/August 2013
by mary e gerdt or others as guests editorials
all rights reserved

August 2013

Monkton Chronicles

Monkton, Vermont.

Monkton Chronicles August 2, 2013

Beautiful Vermont weather. Daytime 70's, nighttime 50's. Raining a lot when it does. The garden is slowly catching up. Speaking of catch up, Fred made some tasty fermented ketchup, or castup, however you spell it. Very tasty. We are trying our hands at pickles again and the fermented cuke pickles are quite interesting. Working on toning down the salt. Recipes on the WWW help get it down.

I planned on somehow archiving my archives of the chronicles. Too tired tonight. Have a Great week in your spot in the Universe. meg

Archives: July 16th. July halfway over and we got the rest of the plants in the ground. Tomatoes, onions, tomatillos, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts. Pared way down from some years. Luckily we waited. Many planted twice and lost both times. Getting late for here. The days already start getting "shorter", less daylight. Oh Yes, I tweetered to Astronaut Luca and he responded which was so very cool for a space groupie like myself. He said a day is a day up there too...

Travelogue entry: July 4th week.We got away to Virginia for a nice road trip. Fred is a good driver and we paced ourselves, rested and kept cool. Unusually cool there which is still warm but quite pleasant. We stayed w/friends and visited family too.

Fred ordered a sockeye salmon fresh caught in Alaska and we had a dinner that rivals any restaurant. Never had such a perfect tasting fish.

We had fried chicken w/family on Independence day and drove by Gettysburg, PA on the 150th anniversary of the infamous Bloody battle.

On the way back we had tickets in Woodstock, NY to see Amy Helm and her friends...one of them Natalie Merchant, who I did not recognize as a person who I have 2 of her CD's in 10,000 maniacs. I am so bad with names. I loved her voice, piano playing. Many other fine musicians there like Byron Isaacs, Dan Littlefield & Family, Simi Stone, Another woman...incredible music! Conor Kennedy-who I heard about last week and posted one of his you tubes-he has a new album. Fred and I got there at 6:30 and had a nice mex-style meal @ the Tin Cantina. We wandered to Levon's pond toasted him, watched the fish make ripples in still water...and we felt that Catskill aura. Peaceful. Special. The word???

Eden?

Perhaps that is the best word.

Eden's Spring,

A spring from which Great music will pour forth.

The concert to follow was Great, Fun, Rare.

Live music is, just once.

We are so grateful to have attended this second friday night concert @ the Barn 7.5.13 meg

7.7.2013

Soggy beginning to July in Vermont. The natural greenery, plants, flowers all full and healthy. The garden way behind.

Storms have brought flooding to many areas of the north country. Some areas still feeling the pain from Irene.

Our road washed out and we gently raked the rocks hoping the deluge slows down.

For me, still twittering, trying to balance musical/medical/interesting people-places-things/cyberstuff/news/writing/political-all sides/photography...Then my creativity lurched. Twitter said I could not follow someone. "Who says?" I thought! All I could do was... Google it..."There, Take That!" I said...and since that day I have vowed to sacrifice as few birds as possible as I keep under my 2001 Twit limit. Now up to 2006.

6.28.13 Still fighting the pipeline.

Scroll down for older comments and guest posts. If you tire of this rant, you can try to block it out and enjoy the music or tape some construction paper on the right side of the monitor so you can ignore it. Or go back to Bieber's tweet site. I only am up to 2006 people I can follow. Then I see Ruth Buzzi. I cannot follow her! Somebody has to go. no fair. Bieber gets all the followers he wants.

6.15.2013

Fighting the Gaz Pipeline,WT #$&%®£¥€!¡

So, the town of Monkton,Vermont sprang (or is it sprung,spanged?...no Crammed is more like it, shoved down the constituent throat like a bitter pill.

What did the SB decide to vote for now? I cannot tell you.

I heard heard a rumor the SB signed a deal w Canadian owned Gaz.

It is their deal. they have ignored constituents....wait....they ignored Certain, select constituents. So if your country is needing a model structure for democracy, you might want to avoid our town. Meeting less than 24 h notice and they decide what they want anyway....How can citizens change this...well first they must open their eyes and see. Then they must vote. Yes, so many US citizens do not vote. You will not hear that in the newspapers of the lands with paved roads, only here on my blog, also the first newspaper of Monkton,Vermont. We saved a tree by posting this online.meg

prior postings:

did the Addison Independent Really use the Nimby word? Like did they know how I think, feel, react? I also got a bit incensed when the 2 pro gas sb in Monkton go making pre-deals without authority.The same SB who will sell your property tax lien for being 6 months late paying. You have to hire a lawyer, disentangle it, explain to your bank, be shamed,pay 8% to tax collector (what did he do?) and you pay the town's lawyer, weird and late fees and what else, oh yes, the ad for the newspaper, which is why the newspaper likes it too.

Delinquent tax sales are unconstitutional. I wish I was a lawyer I would challenge. No one has because they like buying cheap property from poor working slobs like myself. They are sick and someone should stop this.

Locally, we fight the Gaz Pipeline with pennies and words.

Oh, I wish I could attend meetings and be everywhere fighting every bad situation. Alas, if I am even an instigator, illuminating change agent, then perhaps I have served my role in this battle against pipeline through our fair town of Montkon. Where we pay taxes to conserve land we cannot get to and can't sell rocks so why on Earth would anyone want to make our town a lowly transmission field. That already smells bad. Posting links as they come in as we live in a newspaperless town.

Please say No to the pipeline. Yoko Ono did, on you tube and she explained quite well why New York does not want it. Once I started researching, it is easy to find out why a lot of places do not want high pressures natural gas transmission lines in mountainous plus lakes/rivers in places like New York, and West Virginia. NY even funded a study showing All the reasons pipelines are Not the answer. Please vocalize your opposition at this critical junction. No the Gaz company does not have imminent domain nor do they have a right to be here and do what they want. No, the selectboard has not expressed the wishes of the town when they invite the Gaz people in. I have, however, given up on trying to convince the SB of anything. I am trying to explain to you, who may have partners, children, grandchildren, pets, animals, first responders and others you love who will be affected if this is allowed to go in. Once a right of way is established, the lines will grow, the pipeline will suffer leaks, someone will get hurt. Property values go down. Taxes go up even more with the burden on fire and safety personnel. All at the benefit of Middlebury College and the Paper Mill across the lake. Please say no to the pipeline, today and forever. My voice alone cannot make it stop.We Citizen Fracking Fighters have still been on an accelerated learning curve due
to the divisive, attacking nature of the Gaz company. It is time to stop, look
and listen to the citizens who understand the dangers, who have googled
mountainous high pressure gas lines and saw the explosions, the faux pax's of
humans moving too fast. I have studied the prices both cost with gas prices
expected to rise,and environmental with fracking-permanent damage to the
environment. Our town would be a transmission field for Middlebury. We say NO to
the Pipeline. Will you?

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jasper sean

self portrait


Sean was fairly self conscious
and usually avoided the camera.
this day he consented
for me to snap one with the kindle

We do miss him so.

And we still have 2 left

Tommy

He feels a little lost
without Sean
He also misses biting Sean's neck
or beating him up.
it is a cat thing.

Girly Girl aka Missy aka Meredien aka Whitney


She's moved more into the downstairs and she never quite knew what to do about Sean.
So she would ignore him.

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Blogging Forward: Doug Cooper...reflections: Seeking, Finding, Losing, Keeping

Link to Doug's blog...


Reflections: Seeking, Finding, Losing, Keeping: Much that I sought I could not find. So begins a four-line poem, a favorite of mine, penned by Lee Wilson Dodd. It was one of 100 quotati...

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How to Get Out of a Dead-End Job

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. dead-end [ded-end] (n.) – a situation in which a person is unable to go or move forward

Example:  With no opportunities for career growth, Justin’s work reached a dead end.

2. turn things around [turn things uh-ROUND] (v. phrase) – to fix a problem; to change a bad situation into a good one

Example: The company’s profits started to increase when the marketing team turned things around with their brilliant business strategy.

3. lateral move [LAT-er-uhl moov] (n. phrase) – the act of getting a new job, either in the same company or a different one, at the same level as the previous position

Example: Since Cindy only made a lateral move, her salary remained the same.

4. diverse [dih-VURS, dahy-, DAHY-vurs] (adj.) – having various forms or kinds; different from each other

Example: The company consists of a diverse group of employees coming from different countries.

5. safety net [SEYF-tee net] (idiom) – something that serves as protection from loss, harm or other difficult situations

Example:  The government’s unemployment benefits program serves as a safety net for people who have lost their jobs.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

Business experts offer advice on how to turn things around for employees who feel like they are at a dead-end. Glassdoor.com gathered data from companies in 190 countries in a company review survey. The website found that one-third of the employees around the world are dissatisfied with their jobs. Experts gave three solutions to cope with the problem of feeling stuck in a job. First, one can make a lateral move within the company. Joel Garfinkle, author of "Getting Ahead," said that a lateral move to another group or department can be exciting and challenging. Garfinkle added that an employee who makes a lateral move has an advantage over co-workers when it comes to getting a promotion because of diverse experience. Second, an employee can go back to school to earn an additional degree or certificate. One should focus on fields that are in demand and in need of talent, such as IT and healthcare, said Al Stewart, founder of Business Mentors. Furthermore, Stewart recommended that one keep his or her job as a safety net while attending school part-time. Lastly, the most direct way is to find a job in another company. Dan Schwabel, author of "Promote Yourself," advised people to stay in their jobs until they are able to get a new one. He said one should update his or her resume and highlight the skills he or she wants to use in the next job.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Among the three solutions, which do you think is the best? Why?

·         Aside from having no opportunities for career growth, why do you think some people feel unhappy with their jobs?

Discussion B

·         Which is more important to you – salary or job satisfaction? Why do you say so?

·         If you were looking for a new job, what would be the most important factor to consider?

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Friday Music link

Some fantastic music
from The Blues Brothers
Video from Montreux Jazz Festival 1990
YT link Fred found on FB last night
We are Grateful!!

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Pollution Cuts Life Expectancy in Northern China

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. life expectancy [lahyf ik-SPEK-tuh n-see] (n. phrase) – the expected life span of a person

Example: Many Japanese centenarians have longer life expectancies.

2. suffocate [SUHF-uh-keyt] (v.) – to feel uncomfortable due to the lack of fresh air

Example: The pollution caused by the cars caused her to slightly suffocate.

           

3. trace back  [treys bak] (v. phrase) – to follow where something started or to find out where something began

Example: The pollution in the rivers was traced back to the chemicals released by the factories.

4. constraint [kuh n-STREYNT] (n.) – something that limits or restricts

Example: The city government could not solve the garbage problem due to financial constraints.

5. particulate [per-TIK-yuh-lit, -leyt, puh-TIK-, pahr-] (n.) – an extremely small particle or liquid droplet that is harmful to the air

Example: The pollution in the country worsened when harmful particulates increased to 85%.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

A new study from an international team of researchers has found that pollution has cut the life expectancy in Northern China by an average of five and a half years. The pollution in the said area is so severe that residents are complaining on how the air has become suffocating. The food has also been contaminated and the water has become unsafe for drinking. According to the research, the health effects of the higher pollution level are very significant since people’s life expectancy is decreasing. One of the terrible effects of pollution in the country is the increased number of people dying due to cardiorespiratory diseases. The cause of the pollution in China can be traced back in the 1950's when the government started providing free heating to Northern China during winter. Coal boilers powered this free heating system, resulting in higher carbon emissions and higher level of pollution. Unlike in Northern China, the government did not provide free heating in Southern China due to budget constraints. Thus, Southern China has lower level of pollution. According to the research, the North has a 55% higher level of harmful particulates than in the South. This difference in air quality can be visibly seen through the thick smog in Beijing. Despite economic problems, China's leadership promises to find effective measures to control the pollution in the country. In last year's annual meeting of the Communist Party National Congress, former Premier Wen Jiabao said that China needs to change the way people work and live in order to combat pollution.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         How else do you think can the pollution in China affect the country’s people?

·         What can the Chinese government do to combat pollution? Please explain your answer.

Discussion B

·         How important is the environment to a person’s health? Please explain your answer.

·         Do you think the citizen’s health should be one of the top priorities of the government? Why or why not?

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An Ordinary Day...they are not so bad

The Day  was ordinary

average, so so, nothing special.

Still there was something special in that day,

just cannot recall what It was.

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India Uses Railway System to Bring Science to People

【Unlocking Word Meanings】

　今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. stopover [STOP-oh-ver] (n.) – a place where travelers temporarily stop during the course of a long journey

Example: Passengers often buy food at the train’s stopovers.

2. exhibit [ig-ZIB-it] (n.) – a collection of things displayed for the public

Example: Many people went to the museum to see the science exhibits.

3. hands-on [HANDZ-ON, -AWN] (adj.) – interactive or involving actual participation

Example: The school gives hands-on training to newly-employed teachers.

4. educator [EJ-oo-key-ter] (n.) – a person who teaches

Example: The students thanked their educator for teaching them lessons in life.  

5. mobile [MOH-bahyl] (adj.) – having the ability to move from one place to another

Example:  Mobile classrooms travel from one region to another to reach children in far places.

【Article】

　ニュース記事

Read the text below.

The Indian government is using its railway system to provide children with Science and Math education through a moving classroom. The Science Express train is travelling 19,000 kilometers all over India from April to October. In 62 different stopovers, teachers display exhibits showing information about biodiversity, climate change, and conservation. India’s prime minister launched the Science Express project in 2007 to draw children back to science. Currently, 40 volunteers are spending six months of their time for the project. Raghav Pandya, one of the passionate volunteers, said he wanted to spread awareness of scientific knowledge to many people. The Science Express allows young people to participate in the hands-on laboratory where educators perform experiments about math and science. The mobile classroom stays at each station for three to four days. The government decided to use the national railway system for this project because the network reaches even the farthest corner of the country. With easier access to different places, the mobile classroom can become closer to achieving its goals. Most children from India’s small towns have very limited opportunities to go to schools. So instead of bringing people to science, India’s Department of Science and Technology aims to effectively bring science to people. Today, this extraordinary project has already reached over 8.5 million people from different towns in India. The government, however, expects to reach the 10 million mark when the Science Express moves to West Bengal, Orissa, and other towns before the year ends.

【Viewpoint Discussion】

　ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         How else do you think can the Science Express benefit the children in India?

·         Do you think the project can help adults as well? Why or why not?

Discussion B

·         What are the benefits of knowing more about science and math? Discuss with your tutor.

·         Do you think the government should invest more in improving science and math education? Why do you think so?

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