I enjoy voting for a beginner who makes a great effort and makes an intelligent and accurate posting! I imagine that it makes them feel good about himself or herself. For more advanced students, I do not imagine that the voting provides much motivation...they are self-motivated, in my opinion. With my score soaring now above the others, this could possibly be a disincentive for slower students who are just getting started. I would not mind if the scoring were eliminated alogether for more advanced students!

These "where" rhyming words will not make me a poet, but here goes:

I search , but where ?
for sky so fair
with sweet scented air
and deer, foxes and hare
safe in their lair
I see a pheasant there
and doves by the pair
close by a grazing bear
I search, but know not where ?

poem by Rod 4/26/09

An evening snow visited Baltimore too.

Perhaps these expression will be of interest: do you know what they mean?

I am up a creek without a paddle.
I am up against a wall.
I am up a blind alley.
My back is to the wall.
I hate you for that.
She spilled the beans.
She kicked the bucket.
He is as thick as water.
He is so wishy washy.
Keep your powder dry.
Ants in your pants.
Dumb as a doornail.
Silly as a loon.
My hands are tied.
My lips are sealed.
She aired her dirty linen.
I am hanging in there.
Keep your shirt on.
Hold your horses.
Watch your mouth.

How rhyming words poem:

Let there be no row
that I know how
to make a cow
rhyme with a sow
or that just now
I give my vow
to take a bow...
because, I do know how!

Poem by Rod 4/27/09

I think that the totality of creative force is invested in the concept called God.
I think that the universe is the totality of God's domain.
I think that outer space is a region of God's domain that he will permit man to visit.
I think that religion is a covenant between God and man to better understand/relate to God and one another.
I think the meaning of life is ordained by God and that we are destined to learn it by living by God's rules!

A very wise person on this site said earlier in another discussion that she felt it was important to keep a dialogue going about historical events which happened and to pass on a history of how they impacted adversely on the lives of hundreds of millions of us who survived the fearsome machinery that Hitler set in motion: the WW2, the Holocaust, the dreadful battlefield losses, the starvation, the misery......how else will our progeny know not to repeat these mistakes if we do not remind them? One can not just summarily ignore important lessons that history teaches us...even when we do not enjoy hearing about them any longer! Some things must be taught and they must be learned!

Butt is ostensibly unisexual, but in reality a woman wants you to tell her that her ass is beautiful or that her derriere is lovely. These two preferences are more feminine in expression than butt! Use butt in referring to yourself or a guy at the gym who needs to work to trim down his butt! Ass is not only more feminine, but it could also imply your more personal attraction to same! Butt is devoid of feelings or attraction! In refined, mixed company or in public, butt is less sexual than ass and therefore is more acceptable to use! I suppose the best thing to remember is to use ass in tender, private moments with your sweetheart and use butt at all other times and with all other people.

Hey man, you make me blush! But, thanks for your sincere sentiments , my Russian friend! I guess I have become rather involved without ever really expecting to do so! You have been a real inspiration
with your book-sharp knowledge of English words and grammar and your knowledge of all things scientific ! Thanks, Poseidon , for helping to make this site interesting!
Rod

I can become happy listening to the sounds of nature: chirping of crickets, rustling of trees in the wind, singing of songbirds, screeching of water birds, cries of the coyote, humming of bees and the soothing sound of the surf as it tumbles to shore!

It is something that happens to each one of us! I find it a situation frought with possible complications and possible unpleasantness; but , this is the 21st century and the internet is the wave of the future in meeting new people. I think it can be done successfully, but it should be done with extreme preparedness and only after obtaining a maximum of familiarity beforehand!

When I lived in Paris, I used to cross The Channel about once a month and travel by train to London. I think of London as the mother city of all American cities: she is historic, storied,beautiful, enchanting, civilized,democratic,cultured and captivating! If I had to select a city outside of US as a place of residence, I believe London would even win out over Paris.

Well, what I take from this is that being fluent in grammar does not by itself assure fluency in speaking! I must agree that I believe that is correct; however , it is essential to know these bones of grammar in order to be able to immerse oneself in the listening and speaking parts of being fluent in a language. I think learning the grammar is the first essential step and then the immersion in listening to the language being spoken comes next! Finally, I believe that once one has been saturated by the spoken language, ones tongue can only then make understandable and intelligible sounds and words in the new language. This is how it works for me and I assume there must be some fundamental principles of learing and speaking a new language at work here!

Not certain whether this fills the bill, but here goes:

Where can I purchase some Muenster cheese in Moscow?
Where can I find a job in Moscow?
Will I be able to locate any convenience stores in Moscow?
Will you direct me to a Lutheran church, please?
Will you point me in the direction of an ordinary apothecary?

Where are those infernal snow plows when you really need one ?

Young lovers often misunderstand one another due to nervousness and the emotion of the moment!
It sounds as if you and Dana have barely begun the process of dating or of establishing a relationship.
Poseidon is right , though: the best girl is out there and at 23 you have just begun your search. Give yourself time and don't settle for just one girl from the start. Why not try to get to know both Dana and Ala better?

Nathaniel Greene

I will mention a few, hope they help some:

Take the dog out for a walk
Feed the dog/cat
Change the baby
Take the car, I need the van
Pick up some milk while you're out
Take the child to school

Try this English word for size and try twirling it deftly on your tongue: antidisestablishmentarianism.

My understanding from mathematics is that the nautical mile is equivalent to 1 minute of arc of latitude at every longitude of the earth's surface....I believe it is a distance that was agreed upon to standardize such measurements and it provides a meaningful and consistent parameter for determining sea distances and for charting positions anywhere at sea.