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 |   A Journal to impart knowledge and facts |
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July 22, 2015 I'm going to start today to record on a daily basis whatever happens to strike my fancy. So, it is a very cool breezy day. I just posted 5 short book reviews to The Monthly Reading Challenge. I'm suppose to put away some winter wood today from the woodpile outside but I'm playing hookey from work to write so starting this blog will get done. I'm having a daily fight with a flock of English Sparrows that are trying to take over my barn. They are making a terrible mess so they have to go. I have destroyed several nests so far they don't leave but they get out of the barn when I am around. I'm just starting the fight so I guess I don't know how far I have to go to discourage them. I'm trying not to spread myself to thin on WDC because I find so many things that are interesting here and I am trying to work on a new story. I really enjoy sitting at my desk with a cup of tea and reading blogs on WDC. |
| “February is a suitable month for dying. Everything around is dead, the trees black and frozen so that the appearance of green shoots two months hence seems preposterous, the ground hard and cold, the snow dirty, the winter hateful, hanging on too long.” ― Anna Quindlen For BCoF:  Just not true for where I live. The days are getting longer. The sun is going to be able to reach us each day after the winter equinox with more rays. Not only that but, I was born in Florida, and I spent 9 years in Texas. When I came back to Pa., we were having long winters starting in November and snow then would last until end of March. I could not get use to the cold. Then, one day in January I found clumps of grass growing behind a piece of plywood that was leaned up against a building outside. I began to look around. I got a reality check. There was living greenery everywhere it could find to steal a ray of sun. Pollywogs under the ice on the pond, grass in the oddest spots sheltered from the ice and snow. Even flowers will rise out of the ground after a snowstorm melts and begin to grow even if they freeze and have to start again when snow melts again. Buds on the trees get larger a little at a time just don't burst into leaves until a certain time of spring is reached. There are always things growing around us we have to open our eyes and search them out. |
| “Only the very weak-minded refuse to be influenced by literature and poetry.” ― Cassandra Clare For Blog City.  If weak-minded means lacking emotional strength, determination, or intellectual ability I think there are other reasons some people resist reading, or a desire to learn. literature and poetry influence both. Plus, sometimes reading is influenced by what you like to read about. Poetry is an amazing visual of emotion. Again, what do you see when you read it? I think of lacking emotional strength as people who have been broken by abuse. Determination has to be taught by backing up people, who learn to handle the problems forced into being by society. Intellectual ability is only nurtured by the niche we live in. The use of the words weak-minded does not reveal the behind-the-scenes actuality of human mental formation. |
Andre the Blog Monkey's Banana Bar / Share the Love Event![Merit Badge in The Blogging Banana Bar
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For competing the full four weeks of the Non-Judgmental Blogging Event in January 2023.
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Your blogging is always welcome at [Link To Item #1985857] .](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/group-The_Blogging_Banana_Bar-2246010_9.gif) Personal Prompt 2: Highlights of Salman Rushdie I first heard about Salman Rushdie in the news, when there was a contract put out on his life for writing "The Satanic Verses". Just recently news about Rushdie is, he is still healing from the latest attack on his life. Even though "The Satanic Verses" is a fiction story it was considered an embarrassment by some Muslims who put out a contract on his life in 1989. On August 12,2023 Rushdie was attacked when about to start a speech in Chautauqua, New York. The attacker Hadi Matar was arrested and charged with assault and attempted murder. Rushdi was seriously injured. He is recovering from the attack. Rushdie's writing is historical fiction and magical realism. He has written 26 books, 5 of them are nonfiction. His writings also contain short stories and musical lyrics. Rushdie was born into a Muslim family in India. He is a citizen of the United Kingdom and holds a degree from King's College, Cambridge. Awards to Rushdie's books are many. "Midnight's Children" won, Best of the Bookers/ "Shame" 1983 awarded from France, Best Foreign Book/ St. Louis Literary Award, as well as 10 Best Books of the year, and a Commonwealth award of Distinguished Service. Personal comments: I read the story about Salmon Rushdie's recovery from a news site online. It made me realize I have read other stories about him being in danger from terrorists. I've never read any of his books, so I looked him up online. I was interested to find out how diverse and well known his work really is, but I've never read any of his writings. Off to the library I went on my kindle. sure enough, there are copies of some of Rushdie's books in the library I use. "The Satanic Verses" is there. Even though it shows two copies, you still have to put it on hold to get it, and it is a 3 month wait before my turn would come up. I was able to start reading "The Golden House" which gained an Andrew Carnagie Medal Nominee in 2018. The book was published in 2017. Different reviews of this book say it deals with American lifestyle and culture. I'm through the second chapter. The character descriptions paint pictures. Which means, this is my book for the weekend. Read On! All word count on WDC:396 References: Bing information look up. www.wikipedia.org. www.salmanrushdie.com |
| Andre the Blog Monkey's Banana Bar / Share the Love Event MY CHOICE 1: An example of Artificial Intelligence on the move. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a technology moving toward machines, that process large amounts of data,and are able to do tasks that people normally do. Programmed to think like humans and immtate the actions of humans these machines will be able to step into places humans now fill in the job market. It is considered a fact that these machines will create new jobs. Some of the relevant categories of software for machines, are Narrow AI, Artificial Super AI (ASI), and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). In the world of computer searches Google has reigned at the top for many years. Bing, used with Microsoft Edge is going to make a try to gain some respect in the field of information searches. Microsoft is trying out a new OPEN AI's ChatGPT tool. The new Bing presents written summaries of the search results along with references. The search can be extended with a chat to ask questions. You can ask the chatbot to shop for a new appliance or write an email for you. It may be able to plan meals and menus. Other types of information to make life easier will be available as you learn to ask the right question and rely on the AGI Tool. If this is a competition, Google is still in the game. Their Chatbot is named Bard. Like ChatGPT, BARD is going to chat about the searches being made. Both Chatbots will use your specific language to respond to questions. Presently, a new Bing will be released from Microsoft. It will contain the new OPEN AI CHATGPT TOOL. You will pay to get it. When Google releases Bard it will be free and integrated into the Google system. Bard uses LaMDA technology. Presently, Bard is only being used by testers trusted by Google. All Word Count by WDC:340 . References: Definition of Artificial Intelligence from Bing www.cnn.com: article about Microsoft's new OPEN AI CHATGPT TOOL www. tomsguide.com: article about Googles Bard |
| Andre the Blog Monkey's Banana Bar / Share the Love Event P14: Should education always require learning a second language? My opinion, the word require is the point. I'm not a trained teacher so I don't know how students are scored to pass or fail any given class or year in school. Languages are easy for some people and not so easy for others. To require someone to learn a second or third language may be pushing on their freedom and rights. Some parent is bound to object. To offer language at an early age is a good idea. It might kick their minds into a second gear. so they would see the value of education. As society becomes more diversified, a second more common language like Spanish would be an asset as the child grows, I don't think schools today are afraid to offer higher education at an earlier age. I've seen how society easily grabbed on to tech toys. I'm thinking job markets are going to involve more advanced technology as years go on. Computers, software, automobiles, farm equipment, transportation, surveillance, heating, pets; I can see parts of all these subjects becoming a part of higher technological job markets. The job market is already. changing. I can hope for a day when education will be affordable or free. If I had the money, I would go back to school. Someday, taking a class will be as easy as having communication tech. This is already true in part. Covid was a bad scene, one of the changes it produced was the drive to communicate through technology. Diversified societies will live more peacefully together, individual languages could become part of a diversified society. If your new neighbors speak Swahili, will you learn to communicate. Or maybe just keep a handy tech translator around. All Word Count on WDC:302 |
| Andre the Blog Monkey's Banana Bar / Share the Love Event } P5: Depth of WDC. What have you experienced on WDC? I have been around for a while. I've dipped my words into a lot of different places. I spent a lot of time on the Reading Challenge, writing reviews of books I read. Some are still in my portfolio. I think that is the first place I really settled into doing anything on a regular basis. The second place I fixated on at particular pace was the 30-Day Challenge, which is now on Hiatus. Through that Challenge I somehow found myself writing blogging challenges on Andre' the Blog Monkey's Banana Bar. There is not any particular time or way to figure all I have experienced in a particular rhythm. I took 3 different courses on WDC. One was about poetry since I do not have much of a background in poetry. While accomplishing the material, our teacher stopped the course about halfway through, but left me with work to finish, so I could continue to learn some of the material. The other two courses I finished. One was nonfiction writing and the other was a very informative course on reviewing on WDC. I wrote a story entry for Short Shots called "Mushrooms On the Trail" #2058309, Once in a while I remember to welcome newbies, Recently, I am writing blogs for Blog City and Blogging circle of friends, I wrote for Journalistic Intentions one month, which I really enjoyed and may do some more writing for the contest. Now I write comments in Question of the Day, stop regularly in the Newsfeed to check out what is there, and sometimes comment on entries, enter the monthly challenge in the Senior Center Forum now and then, I was blogging with "Take up Your Cross for a while, " A few years ago, there was a scavenger hunt. I was on a Wi-Fi that kept dropping me but, I did as much of the hunt as I could. It was fun and a good way to learn your way around WDC. I have email at WDC, so I sometimes get to talk with people who are acquainted with my blog. I check my notifications daily, except weekends. The last year I have not been able to get on WIFI weekends. I try to get in to check up on everything during the week and meet most writing deadlines during the week. I just checked my community recognitions and found some I did not know I had. There are 8 trophies in my trophy room, 62 collected trinkets, 99 merit badges, and 72 recognitions. I did not count the blogs on Tenacious Tidings. I've been here 14 years. One day at a time. I've learned a lot about writing here. I hope I can continue to be here for days ahead. WDC gives me an opportunity to continue to write and chat with other people. Very  .All Word Count on WDC:479 ![Merit Badge in Every Moment Matters
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| Andre the Blog Monkey's Banana Bar / Share the Love Event P7: Interesting discovery in your closet or cupboard (go look and find something) Found I found a knife when I was insulating the living room. It was inside a wall where studs rest. The handle is 4 3/4 inches long. It is made of walnut wood. The blade is fastened into the handle on a 1/4-inch slant with two copper rivets. The blade is serrated. It has a width of 1/2 inch at its' thickest place. The blade curves to a point. It is very sharp. It is 8 1/4 inches long. On the blade is a very small, (EMBLEM, EKCO STAINLESS USA, EMBLEM) writing. I checked with some family members. Noone claims it. It presently is in the silverware drawer with other odds and ends of knives, can openers etc. When the original paneling was placed in the original kitchen no knives were left in the wall. I have never had a set of knives or a single knife that matches this one. Where it came from is a mystery. How it got into the wall is another mystery. When the house was first built, the walls of the house were wood paneled. There was a kitchen in one part of the area. Later we removed the kitchen and put in a bedroom. Years later, we removed the bedroom making the whole area into one large living space. I found the knife several years ago when we started to change the house around. It is perfect for cutting insulation to fit. I'm sure it is not its original intended purpose. When it was first built the house did not have insulation in the wall where we found it. If you know someone who lost a knife out of a fancy knife set, let me know. All Word Count on WDC: 306 |
| Prompt: National Kite Flying Day -- BCoF I could not fly a kite today (well I could). Maybe some years February would be an OK time to fly a kite. Some place without snow would be better. I've heard of people flying kites out over Lake Erie. Not necessarily in February. We have a foot of snow in the field behind the house where in spring I have flown kites before. I have a really large kite I bought for the kids years ago. Once in a while, I get it out and fly it. It is the kind of kite that loves to fly. We have heavy unbreakable string especially for it, because I can put it up on a good day and fly it high enough to not be able to see it. I once invited some people I graduated with to come out and fly kites. The hay field is a perfect place because it is fairly flat, and we get a westerly wind or breeze that puts up a kite easily. It was at some monthly meeting of the class I graduated with; however, they thought kite flying was a childish endeavor. It is kind of thrilling to feel the wind pulling on the kite. To know I was able to get it up and then once it is up really high, I worry I will lose it over the forest behind the field, when I bring it down again. I also have some very small bird shaped kites I bought one year for my grandchildren. They are not as easy to get up but are fun to play with in the wind. It's a shame to grow so old you can't enjoy flying a kite. I have my own train set. I think that's why the lost boys ran away from home. They did not want to grow up. One of my sons gave me part of my train set for Christmas. I won't apologize for staying young at heart. Song Lyrics from :Mary Poppins 1964 " Let's Go Fly a Kite Up to the Highest Height, Let's Go fly a Kite and Send it Soaring, Up in the atmosphere, up where the air is clear. OH, Let's Go Fly a Kite." |
| Andre the Blog Monkey's Banana Bar / February 2023 / Share the Love Event P6: Weather disasters and what can be done to protect people and property before they happen. Weather warning system "Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms can develop quickly, so an important component of a severe weather plan is a reliable warning system. Warnings are disseminated through outdoor warning sirens, local television and radio stations, cable television systems, cell phone apps, and NOAA weather radio. Find out how all these systems work and which are available to you. Public Warning Sirens are used in many towns to warn people of tornadoes. However, rural areas and smaller towns do not have them." Quote from reference: www.weather.gov The prompt plays into the storm system, that is about to hit the rural area where I live. Lows for 6 degrees Fahrenheit are expected with wind chill factors going deep below zero degrees. We have TV stations that broadcast from Erie, Pennsylvania. They keep us up to date about current conditions. We get our TV by antenna. One station is devoted to weather. ENN is forecasting about a 6-inch accumulation of snow starting about 7 p.m. this evening and continuing into Friday, February 3,2023. Other news programs on WICU, NBC, and CBS will also have up to date weather coverage. A new warning system was discussed on a weather report I recently saw that declares we may be getting a warning system for winter storms and other types of storms related to the area soon. If it happens phone apps will have siren warnings similar to the one used for lost people or kidnapped children. We do have a siren on the rural volunteer fire department. I don't know how it works for weather or if it works for weather. I also keep an emergency radio that plays when you wind it up should we lose our electricity for any reason. The NOAA weather radio mentioned in the above quote also sounds like a good idea. High winds are one of the problems that hit our area. Because of many trees across the area, you can find downed limbs and in more rare cases downed trees on rural roads. My suggestion to anyone and everyone is to stock up with foods, blankets, water, and pet food. Insulate your home or at least one special room where you can sit out a trending storm in some comfort. If you have a cell phone, be sure you have a weather app to check before you go out. There are even home weather stations you can buy on the market today. Weather.gov has UpToDate weather personalized to your zip code, if you have Wi-Fi and computer access. Keep Warm. All words counted by WDC:457 |
For Andre the Blog Monkey's Banana Bar / February 2023 Prompt: P3. Groundhog Day and groundhogs in general (not the movie) Groundhogs, whistle pigs, and wood chucks are the same thing. "How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?" (One of the things my dad taught me to say when I was a child.) I didn't know there was a movie. The name whistle pig comes for the sound this animal makes by drawing air through his front teeth when there is danger. Woodchucks have short muscular legs. Their front incisors wear down by chewing. They are one of the animals that have incisors that continue to grow making chewing a necessary routine. They feed in the morning and early evening. The rest of the day they sleep or rest in the sun. They are a true hibernating animal. Their heart rate goes from a normal 100 beats per minute to 4 beats per minute during hibernation. The size of an adult keeps most predators away. The young are not so lucky. Woodchucks mate early in spring. Offspring can be 6 and above to a litter. They are raised by the female. Pennsylvania Game Commission says it is possible for more than one litter to be born in a season. This is one of the reasons there is no hunting limit on woodchucks in Pennsylvania. The only restrictions are you cannot hunt them on Sundays and during rifle deer season. Woodchucks dig holes to build dens. They can have tunnels underground and a front and back door. Often, they dig holes under buildings, which gives them shelter in winter. They prefer fields, gardens, or lawns as well as under buildings to dig their dens. Groundhog Day has become an American tradition. It was started in Pennsylvania by German farmer settlers in Pennsylvania. They celebrated Candlemas. In Germany they used badgers as their go to for information about the weather. In Pennsylvania there were no badgers, so they started this story; when the Groundhog sees its shadow on Candlemas there would be six more weeks of winter. The groundhog used presently has a special day in March for his predictions. He has a special person as his keeper in Philadelphia. The groundhog's name is Punxsutawney Phil. There is another groundhog in Massachusetts. Massachusetts made a law to make Ms. G their own special state groundhog. Ms. G lives at the Druman Farm Wildlife Sancturary in Lincoln. Massachusetts. I can tell you from experience Phil from Philidelphia is not always right with its predictions. REFERENCES: WWW.WIKIPEDIA.COM WWW.MASSAUDUBON.ORG All Word Count by WDC:429 |
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