Ever stopped for a moment and considered just how precious our natural world is? World Wetlands Day is an opportunity to remember those beautiful, boggy parts of our world that ducks, geese, swans, frogs, water voles, flamingoes and all other sorts of waterfowl and animals need to have in order to exist and thrive in harmony.
We all know that parts of our world are under risk of being over-developed; at the expense of the creatures who inhabit these dwindling areas. The wetlands need our help, money and support if we are to see these beautiful birds and other water-based creatures survive for next generation. World Wetlands Day is the perfect chance to make a much-needed donation to a charity that works to save these areas. Or, if you live near a wetlands center, go and visit it! They are fascinating places, run by dedicated staff and volunteers who need your support – and you may just find yourself becoming drawn into the world of bird watching, nature photography, duck feeding or birdhouse building!
Word of the Day
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| Definition: | (noun) A spectacular public display. | ||
| Synonyms: | ostentation | ||
| Usage: | Because they were considered hometown heroes, the returning astronauts were greeted with much fanfare. | ||
thanks, helen, for all the funny 'naughty' animal pics
OWNERS ARRIVE HOME TOO SOON!
Idiom of the Day
the Fourth Estate— The people and organizations that report the news, or news journalism as a whole, regarded as having palpable but unofficial political influence. |
History
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 | Selkirk was an unruly Scottish sailor who quarreled with his captain and asked to be put ashore on an island in the Pacific. Tired of Selkirk's troublemaking, the captain granted him his wish. Selkirk promptly regretted his decision and chased after the boat, but to no avail. He survived on the desert island by eating shellfish and goats and domesticated feral cats to keep himself safe from rats. | ||
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 | Joyce was an Irish novelist—perhaps the most influential and significant novelist of the 20th century. After publishing his story collection, The Dubliners, and the autobiographical novel Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, he spent seven years writing Ulysses, which is now widely regarded by many as the greatest English-language novel of the 20th century. | ||
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 | Candelaria, or Candlemas, is a major holiday in Bolivia, where the Virgen de Candelaria is the country's patroness. The festivities focus on her shrine in the normally placid town of Copacabana on Lake Titicaca, where visitors begin to arrive in the week that precedes the festival. Aymará, Quechua, and Chiriwano Indians can be recognized by their colorful native costumes and musical instruments, and most begin dancing as soon as they arrive and continue till the end of the festival. | ||
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| The medieval mathematicians of Oxford, toiling in torchlight in a land ravaged by plague, managed to invent a simple form of calculus that could be used to track the motion of heavenly bodies. | |||
READ MORE:
1653 - New Amsterdam, now known as New York City, was incorporated.
1863 - Samuel Langhorne Clemens used a pseudonym for the first time. He is better remembered by the pseudonym which is Mark Twain.
1876 - The National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs (known as the National League) was formed in New York. The teams included were the Chicago White Stockings, Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Stockings, Hartford Dark Blues, Mutual of New York, St. Louis Brown Stockings, Cincinnati Red Stockings and the Louisville Grays.
1892 - William Painter patented the bottle cap
1893 - The Edison Studio in West Orange, NJ, made history when they filmed the first motion picture close-up. The studio was owned and operated by Thomas Edison.
1949 - The first 45 RPM record was released.
1950 - "What's My Line" debuted on CBS television.
DAILY SQU-EEK
If You Were Born Today, February 2
Career and family are equally important to you--both of these things drive you. You are a real achiever who has determination and willpower, as well as intuition that serves you well. Spirit and beauty reflect from within, and others cannot help but take notice of you. Very diplomatic, you are a peace lover through and through, and bringing harmony to your environment and family satisfies like nothing else. Famous people born today: Farrah Fawcett, Shakira, Christie Brinkley, James Dickey, James Joyce.
| Picture of the day | |
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SMS Kaiserin Augusta was a unique protected cruiser built for the German Imperial Navy in the early 1890s. Named for Empress Augusta, she was laid down in 1890, launched in January 1892, and completed in November of that year. Between 1897 and 1902 Kaiserin Augusta served primarily in the East Asia Squadron, assisting in the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion. She then underwent a five-year overhaul, after which she went into reserve. Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Kaiserin Augusta was mobilized as a gunnery training ship, serving in this role until she was sold for scrapping in October 1919 and broken up.
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From Above
Photograph by Craig Goodwin, National Geographic
"After three days and 20 miles of hiking the beaches of Olympic National Park, I ended up on Second Beach in La Push, Washington," begins Craig Goodwin, who snapped this photo of a meteor streaking across the night sky. He was looking to create images of "compositions revealed by the receding waters ... focusing on star reflections and sections of flat beach," but as it turned out, his photo opportunity came from above. "After a large wave receded, I rushed in to set up my tripod at this location ... While I watched for encroaching waves, a bright fireball ripped through the sky and into the frame. I think I might have danced a little when that happened."
knit Valentine's Day
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Cridhe Gadget Cover in Rowan Felted Tweed | Knitting P...
Cridhe Gadget Cover in Rowan Felted Tweed. Discover more Patterns by Rowan at LoveKnitting. We stock patterns, yarn, needles and books from all of your favorite br...
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Around With Auri pattern by Priscilla White-Tocker
My great niece Auri (the daughter of my niece Sarah who inspired my Sarah Bishop shawl, and the granddaughter of my sister Pamela of my Pamela’s Cot...
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knit
knit
knit
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Strasbourg Vest pattern by Kim Guzman
Unique and incredibly versatile, the Strasbourg Vest is the brainchild of designer Kim Guzman. Knit in Country Spice House, the basic vest is transformed by...
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knit, must log on Valentine's Day
Valentine Banner
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Over 6,000 Free Patterns on LionBrand.com
Discover over 800 yarns and 6,000 free knit, crochet, and craft patterns on LionBrand.com. Discover the perfect pattern for you.
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crochet Valentine's Day
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Crochet Heart Sachet Pattern - Petals to Picots
Crochet Heart Sachet Pattern - I made these heart sachets as part of a little Valentine's surprise for my daughters. They are very simple and work up quickl...
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crochet
crochet
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AuntieElle's Blog: Woolly's Snowflake Square - Free Croc...
On a recent crochet retreat, one of the members (1woollywombat) shared a beautiful crochet blanket she found at an op shop for only $3 or $4! It's a beau...
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crochet
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Movie Munchies – Popcorn and Pretzel | Beansprout Creati...
My computer is up and running again! So, as promised, here is my newest pattern: Movie Munchies - Popcorn and Pretzel I apologize for the poor pictur...
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Preview by Yahoo
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crochet
crochet
crochet Valentine's Day
RECIPE
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Twix Bars recipe on Food52.com
The Twix was my go-to candy bar, my movie companion, my lunchtime fascination, my trade-anything-for-it Halloween treat. When the mini-Twix came ou...
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CROCKPOT RECIPE
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Clean Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Drumsticks | iFOOD...
No unknown ingredients in this healthy Teriyaki sauce and it is cooking while you sleep.
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CRAFTS
CHILDREN'S CORNER ... puzzle
PUZZLE
QUOTE
"what is your name?" in Asante (Ghana) - Yefré wo sén?
CLEVER
EYE OPENER
thanks, susie, west coast correspondent
HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY
thanks, heide
I wish I could take a long month off and read Ulysses!
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