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Post by jeanne on Jul 17, 2021 18:43:03 GMT 1
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Post by jeanne on Jul 7, 2021 22:41:10 GMT 1
Now, foreign topics for grade 7 - age 13-14. BTW, did I already tell you that Polish teachers are free to choose textbooks they like best? There are several publishing houses operating in Poland which make books to every subject. So, history for the 7th grade is available in a few versions. Do you mean the teachers are free to choose from a list of approved textbooks? Otherwise, one could spend 'way above the schools' budget, couldn't they? p.s. - I'd like to take a few of those courses! I love history!
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Post by jeanne on Jul 7, 2021 0:10:25 GMT 1
I had never heard of this organization before, but after this weekend I have! This all happened in northeastern Massachusetts. In the very early hours of Saturday morning, police on the interstate highway came upon two vehicles pulled over to the side of the road with their hazard lights flashing and some men refueling. Thinking they could be of assistance to them, the police stopped, and this is what they encountered: eleven men dressed in military gear and heavily armed. The men claimed to be members of "Rise of the Moors," a group, they said, who do not recognize the laws of the United States, so are not bound to obey them. They said they were traveling to rural Maine for "training." Since they were obviously breaking the gun laws of the state of Massachusetts, the police attempted to arrest the men, who at that point took off into the woods. Since there were residential neighborhoods nearby, the police put out an order for residents to shelter in place for what turned out to be nine hours of negotiation between the police and the offenders. The men were eventually arrested and appeared in court today. Here's some further information about the incident: www.necn.com/news/local/rise-of-the-moors-suspects-arrested-in-armed-highway-standoff-due-in-court-tuesday/2498466/
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Plants
Jun 29, 2021 0:24:30 GMT 1
Post by jeanne on Jun 29, 2021 0:24:30 GMT 1
I can't imagine having 2000 plants in one's house. The work involved tending to so many plants is enormous. We have to remember that plants are living entities, and they must receive their very basic needs to thrive or just to survive. I think it's a tremendous responsibility and people should make sure they are prepared to put in the work before they take on such a task!
I have about 25 small houseplants and I struggle to keep up with watering, pruning, and re-potting them as needed! Many of them I inherited when my mother passed away in 2012, so it's important to me to keep them going. One that was my mother's is a large Christmas Cactus (which isn't really a cactus, but a succulent) that is over 60 years old. I have my own Christmas Cactus plant which was propagated from hers which is probably about 50 years old; and just about every female (and a couple of guys) in our family and extended family also have Christmas Cacti that were started from my mother's original plant.
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Post by jeanne on Jun 28, 2021 19:35:59 GMT 1
These floral carpets never cease to amaze me! I loved the aerial view...it really gives a unique perspective on the size of these works of art!
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Post by jeanne on Jun 28, 2021 19:28:41 GMT 1
I know you know that objects don't have gender in English, right? I know some which have:) ships, cars, countries and Death. Ships...yes, okay. Cars, I'm not so sure of, or countries. Death, yes, when it is being referred to as the "Grim Reaper." Cars and countries, I believe, are usually referred to as "it."
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Post by jeanne on Jun 28, 2021 19:15:31 GMT 1
This year they had to use a cotton swab to mark the foreheads with ashes! But at least that is an improvement over last year! Ash on the forehead is also practised here but I haven`t heard of swabs. That is their way of being extra fastidious about not touching another person in order to not chance spreading Covid!
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Post by jeanne on May 24, 2021 0:23:19 GMT 1
...as they are in every church in the U.S.this year.... This situation has a special name, sth like global church village. Pandemic Palm Sunday: Thankfully, we were allowed to receive palms this year (here the churches pass them out to the parishioners), but last year they were not allowed... Last year ashes were not allowed on Ash Wednesday, but this year they were. In the U.S. parishioners are normally marked with ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross by the priests' thumbs. This year they had to use a cotton swab to mark the foreheads with ashes! But at least that is an improvement over last year!
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Post by jeanne on May 24, 2021 0:13:46 GMT 1
Yes, there is a famous part in Hamlet: Why, let the stricken deer go weep, The hart ungalled play; For some must watch, while some must sleep: So runs the world away I saw it in a few translations and all sounded OK. However, the one which I heard as first in my life is the best. This is the original wording by Shakespeare, so I wouldn't call it a "translation." He wrote in English, and probably aside from some of the spelling and use of certain letters which are archaic, I don't believe it was changed much. Is this one the first you heard and is the best? I would think so, because it is written by the Bard himself... What do you mean by "back translation?" I don't know that expression. In any case this second one is a poor attempt to capture the same meaning as the first with rather flat and unlyrical language. This proves my point that you can't "improve" on the original when it comes to Shakespeare! 'Just my opinion.
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Post by jeanne on May 23, 2021 23:27:26 GMT 1
Do you have rabies in Poland among wild animals? If so, you must know that it is spread through saliva, so even though the squirrel in the photo is not biting his host, his mouth is a little too close for comfort in my eyes! Yes, we do have rabies in wildlife. And yes, I forgot about it. BTW, why do you say he about the squirrel? In Polish it is she. I guess we Americans use the default of masculine when referring to animals, unless it is obvious that the animal is female such as when she has young with her or one otherwise knows it is a female. I know you know that objects don't have gender in English, right?
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Post by jeanne on May 23, 2021 23:18:36 GMT 1
This is my favorite! Is it really a ghost? and why?? It is in tourist areas where the main attraction is a haunted castle or mansion. Interesting!
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Post by jeanne on May 23, 2021 23:16:20 GMT 1
Can't Scotty beam him up? Scotty is the boy who takes care of ET? No, it was said by Captain Kirk of the Star Trek TV series. I don't know much about that because I don't like science fiction, but I had a college roommate who watched Star Trek and she used to say it ..."Beam me up, Scotty," so I know it was a "thing" with fans.
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Post by jeanne on Apr 10, 2021 23:13:19 GMT 1
The pandemic has deprived parishes of 40-60% income and the prognosis for the future are not too bright. A sad situation, but Poland is certainly not alone here. Same is true in U.S.
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Post by jeanne on Apr 10, 2021 23:08:55 GMT 1
Happy Easter from your favorite uncle! Happy Easter, Uncle Tim! Nice to have you back again. Hope you and your family are all doing well during these crazy times! Jeanne
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Post by jeanne on Apr 4, 2021 1:17:14 GMT 1
It is the second time we spend Easter in pandemic conditions. Despite limitations and stress, let`s rejoice as usual, so Happy Easter to everyone. Thanks for the reminder, Bonobo! A very Happy Easter to all who visit the forum!
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Post by jeanne on Jan 18, 2021 22:44:46 GMT 1
I have to say that owner was certainly creative in coming up with that idea!
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Post by jeanne on Jan 18, 2021 1:22:19 GMT 1
How come this thread has fizzled out? Hmmm. maybe it's my fault because I'm the American onboard here... Trump is on his way out, but the drama hasn't abated. He got kicked off twitter and some other social media for inciting a riot of his supporters at the U.S. Capitol Building, he wouldn't accept that he lost the election, and on, and on... Oh, also, he's been impeached a second time; the Democrats are hoping to prevent him from ever running for President again...
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Post by jeanne on Jan 9, 2021 21:09:28 GMT 1
You shouldn't be, everything is online these days! There's no hiding anything! I meant I was surprised seeing it online because I hadn`t seen it before in reality or read about it. No, I don't like science fiction movies, That`s bad, some have become classic productions and they talk about basic everyday life issues. E.g., how can the ET return home? Can't Scotty beam him up?
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Post by jeanne on Jan 9, 2021 21:02:38 GMT 1
Especially things related to technology... But as an Am teacher, you should be skilled in it. I still remember that action comedy War Games from 1983 which showed a computer system is used in a high school to put down marks and check attendance. Not all school systems were that advanced in technology, especially in 1983...remember there is little uniformity in American education since local areas are responsible for their own public schools. The federal government lets them decide a lot of things based on their available budgets. Marks and attendance on computers were instituted in the system in which I worked only a few years before I retired. Besides, I was a tutor, so I did not have to do those things; which is part of why I loved my job!
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Post by jeanne on Jan 9, 2021 20:53:45 GMT 1
Warning:Do not stand under a stork's nest looking up at it!! I never did. I always view them from a distance to take better pics. More local signs This is my favorite! Is it really a ghost? and why??
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Post by jeanne on Jan 9, 2021 20:47:32 GMT 1
but no, no, no, I do not want one to take a nut out of my mouth!!!! Why not? They don`t bite. First of all, they can and do bite. My friend's son picked one up (it must have been ill) and it latched onto the boy's finger. They could not remove it no matter what they did. They ended up taking the child to the emergency room at the hospital with the squirrel still attached to his finger. Then the squirrel had to be tested for rabies. Luckily, the squirrel did not have rabies, or the child would have had to undergo a very painful round of shots. Which brings me to the second point. Do you have rabies in Poland among wild animals? If so, you must know that it is spread through saliva, so even though the squirrel in the photo is not biting his host, his mouth is a little too close for comfort in my eyes!
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Post by jeanne on Jan 9, 2021 20:36:09 GMT 1
He's considered the "gold standard" (look up that expression!)of English writers, so no way could someone improve on his writing, no matter what language they are using! Gold standard doesn`t mesn perfect. Even Shakespeare had his weaknesses. Of course he had his weaknesses...but my point is that he was writing in the language of his day, and he had an excellent command of THAT language in THAT TIME, so people who are translating his work after his time may legitimately argue over whose translation is the best, but they cannot argue that any translation is better than the original!! The original stands on its own merit. All that translators can do is attempt to capture the essence of the original author's work in a decent manner, they cannot attempt to re-write the work the way they think it should be; if they do so, they risk becoming plagiarists, not translators!
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Post by jeanne on Dec 31, 2020 17:05:40 GMT 1
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. Which was translated a bit differently into Polish: which no philosophers have ever dreamt of. I think it is a better version. I might agree with you on this if you were talking about a version of Shakespeare that was translated to a language other than English, then translated into Polish. BUT, Shakespeare wrote in English, ENGLISH!! He's considered the "gold standard" (look up that expression!)of English writers, so no way could someone improve on his writing, no matter what language they are using! That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it!!
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Post by jeanne on Dec 25, 2020 14:52:06 GMT 1
I completely forgot about them - it was raining heavily today. Thanks for adding the snow flakes...just in time for Christmas! It's raining heavily here today also. I'm always amused when weather in Poland parallels the weather we are having here! Hope all is well with you and your family!
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Post by jeanne on Dec 25, 2020 14:47:54 GMT 1
Merry Christmas Jeanne and Bo. Wesołych Świąt Boże Narodzenie. I hope you have some warm days with familymembers. This wonderful Christian celebration of birth and light brings some joy to the world. Hopefully Covid 19 will be defeated in 2021 with the vaccins. Amen! to that, Pieter! Best wishes to you and your family!
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Post by jeanne on Dec 24, 2020 19:07:07 GMT 1
Merry Christmas to all...though this has been a difficult year everywhere, we still can celebrate the birth of Christ and wish each other well with hopes for a better 2021! By the way, Bonobo, where are the floating snowflakes on the forum this year?...the ones that lasted way into the spring last year!!
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Post by jeanne on Dec 24, 2020 19:01:55 GMT 1
The nation seems pretty united in protesting the anti-abortion rulings... Well, it only looks so but in fact only the most annoyed and desperate youngsters protested. We shall know the real attitudes when there is a referendum. Is there a referendum scheduled?
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Post by jeanne on Dec 24, 2020 19:00:12 GMT 1
I am preparing the daughter to the second stage of an important English competition but I see it is hopeless - at the age of 15, she isn`t able to take in the material that 19 year olds have at an advanced level of the high school leaving exam. Why is she taking an exam with that advanced level if she is not mastering the material? What is the "important English competition?"
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Post by jeanne on Dec 24, 2020 1:30:19 GMT 1
Yes, those red window frames are very characteristic. What about those red pants worn by the people in the photo...are they a requirement for residents in order to match the window frames??
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Post by jeanne on Dec 24, 2020 1:25:51 GMT 1
My dyslexia hunting results are not always so successful. Most parents follow my advice and take the kid for consultation. A minority still deny. A few weeks a mother told me that the specialist stated her daughter didn`t have dyslexia. I said nothing, just nodded because commenting on an obvious case seemed useless. Her husband, a popular lawyer, once admitted to having it in our private conversation. Now the mother wants to hide the fact. Let it be so. The problem is when she asks me about their daughter`s progress - when I say she won`t win the English language competition due to "unique problems with accuracy", she looks at me with disbelief. Probably she thinks I don`t put enough effort in the teaching process. It's always easy and convenient for parents to just blame the teacher. Unfortunately, many cannot bring themselves to admit that their child may have learning disabilities... Don't worry, Bonobo, I'm sure there are many, many others who can vouch for your teaching talents!
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