DIANE'S CORNER ... Celebrate Opposite Day

Opposite Day is the worst day for not saying anything to the people far away from you. You can’t have fun today, as nothing is allowed and nobody wants to have fun with you. Of course, on Opposite Day, all of that means the opposite! It’s the best day to talking to the people close to you, having fun is the absolute most important thing you can do, and everyone is going to want in on it! Opposite Day may be infuriating for some, but it can be the best (worst?) fun you’ll have all year!

History of Opposite Day

Opposite Day is particularly popular among children, who enjoy the kind of absurdity that can happen when everything you say is backwards. This kind of thing can open the mind to some incredibly diverse ways of thinking, and its stimulating trying to keep up with everyone saying the opposite of what they actually mean. The more cynical of us may wonder how this is any different from the rest of the year.

Opposite Day requires mental dexterity, a quick wit, and the ability to pick words we may not use every day out of the cobwebbed recesses of our brain. Not only that, but some of the things we may be overheard saying to our friends and coworkers may be nothing short of outrageous! Be careful though, you want to make sure the people you’re talking to know its Opposite Day, or you may wind up hurting someone’s feelings.

Opposite Day has shown up in a lot of different forms of media, from Spongebob Squarepants, where Spongebob uses the nature of the day to try to prevent his neighbors from stopping the sale of his house, to the Grim Adventures of Bill & Mandy where they celebrated the madness of this very special day, and tried to remain sane through it all!

Word of the Day

safari

Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

MEANING:

noun: An expedition to observe (or, in the past, to hunt) wild animals in their natural habitat.
verb intr.: To go on such an expedition.

USAGE:

“In this vision, the arrival of a wandering tiger becomes a positive event for villagers, an opportunity to offer tourists homestays, or put on small-scale safaris.”
A Tiger’s Tale; The Economist (London, UK); Dec 23, 2017.

Idiom of the Day

Tip of the Iceberg

If something is said to be 'the tip of the iceberg' it means that something is only a small part of a much bigger problem. The 'tip of the iceberg' is the part of a problem that can be easily observed, but not the rest of it, which is hidden.

Example: The problems that you see here now are just the tip of the iceberg. There are numerous disasters waiting to happen.

Origin: This idiom comes from the fact that only the tip of an iceberg can be seen and the rest of the iceberg, which is much larger, is underneath the water and cannot be seen.

This Day in History

1533 - England's King Henry VIII secretly married his second wife Anne Boleyn. Boleyn later gave birth to Elizabeth I.

1799 - Eliakim Spooner patented the seeding machine.

1858 - Mendelssohn’s "Wedding March" was presented for the first time at the wedding of the daughter of Queen Victoria and the Crown Prince of Prussia.

1870 - G.D. Dows patented the ornamental soda fountain.

1915 - In New York, Alexander Graham Bell spoke to his assistant in San Francisco, inaugurating the first transcontinental telephone service.

1924 - The 1st Winter Olympic Games were inaugurated in Chamonix in the French Alps.

1940 - Mary Martin recorded "My Heart Belongs to Daddy."

1945 - Richard Tucker debuted at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City in the production of "La Gioconda".

1949 - The first Emmys were presented at the Hollywood Athletic Club.

1958 - Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" became the first single to ever enter the U.K. pop chart at Number One

1961 - John F. Kennedy presented the first live presidential news conference from Washington, DC. The event was carried on radio and television.

1964 - Nike was founded. The company was originally named Blue Ribbon Sports.

1970 - Australia's first rock festival began. The Ourimbah Rock Festival ended the next day.

1999 - In Louisville, KY, man received the first hand transplant in the United States.

2002 - "Les Miserables" played for the 6,138th time to become the second-longest running show in Broadway history. "Cats" closed in 2000 with the record of 7,485 shows.

2010 - In Arlington, TX, the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame had its grand opening.

DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, January 25:

You have tremendous insight into others’ character and motivations. A little mysterious yourself, you need time to retreat and refresh your spirit frequently. You don’t always feel understood, but you are also complicated and don’t always let others in! However, you thrive in partnership. Your nature is a dual one, and you may hold down two different jobs as well. You are attracted to strong and determined people. With intellect and intuition equally strong, you are a highly interesting and intelligent friend. Famous people born today:

17 Messalina, Roman Empress (wife of Claudius, infamous for her promiscuity) (born either 17 or 20 AD), born in Rome (d. 48)

1759 Robert Burns, Scottish poet (Auld Lang Syne), born in Alloway, Scotland (d. 1796)

1882 Virginia Woolf [Adeline], British author(Jacob's Room, To Lighthouse), born in London, England (d. 1941)

1933 Corazon Aquino, 11th President of the Philippines (1986-92), born in Paniqui, Tarlac, Philippines (d. 2009)

1981 Alicia Keys [Cook], American singer-songwriter (Fallin, Where Do We Go From Here), born in NYC, New York

READERS INFO

1.

Sundance Film Festival 2019

Jan 24 - Feb 3, 2019 | Park City, UT

This 10-day festival is really two festivals. The first weekend is glamorous, full of industry parties, sponsor-led celebrity events, and world premieres. Alcohol flows widely (be careful given the altitude) and you may be invited to a late night hot tub party. Unless you’re a big-wig, we don’t necessarily recommend you attend the first weekend as it’s easy to feel like you’re on the other side of the velvet rope. Things relax a bit during the weekdays and then the second weekend is when you can try to catch whatever film has gotten lots of buzz. And, on the final Sunday, you can try to get last minute tickets to the award-winners of the festival that are announced on Saturday night. Sundance specializes in documentaries and typically has more than 100 films being screened so there’s a wide array of choices that means it’s a great festival for a family or group of friends who have varied tastes. Go solo to see the films you really want to see and then connect with your tribe later to compare notes and make recommendations.

further information: Be Sure To Atted The Sundance Film Festival Jan. 24-Feb. 3| Park City

2.

Children's Film Festival Seattle 2019

Jan 24 - Feb 9, 2019 | Seattle, WA

Northwest Film Forum|1515 12th Ave

Grab your littlest film buffs and revel in the offerings of the Children's Film Festival Seattle. Held over the course of 3 weeks, the cinematic celebration screens over 175 international children's feature and short-length films. Additional attractions include workshops, world premieres, classes, Q&A sessions and a pancake breakfast.

further information: Children's Film Festival Seattle 2019: Features - Northwest Film Forum

3.

Saint Paul Winter Carnival 2019

Jan 24 - Feb 3, 2019 | Saint Paul, MN

Saint Paul is the Midwest champion of snow and ice. No one else knows how to waffle back and forth between hardcore survival mode and the let's-make-the-most-of-it type of fun. The bitter cold won't hold residents back from lively parades throughout the city, steep sledding hills, hundreds of craft beer selections and a snowplow competition. You'll soon realize that the Winter Carnival offers many more activities, wondering if the locals have ice coursing through their veins.

further information: 2019 Saint Paul Winter Carnival - Saint Paul Winter Carnival

Pictures of the day

Gustav III (24 January [O.S. 13 January] 1746 – 29 March 1792) was King of Sweden from 1771 until his assassination in 1792. Born in Stockholm as the eldest son of King Adolf Frederick, he married Sophia Magdalena of Denmark in 1766. At the time of his accession, the Swedish Riksdag held more power than the monarchy but was bitterly divided between rival parties. After unsuccessful attempts to mediate, Gustav seized power himself in 1772, changing the constitution in what is considered a coup d'état. Following an attempt to form a league of princes to counter the French Revolution, a conspiracy formed among Swedish nobles and he was shot while attending the opera. He died two weeks later and was succeeded by his son Gustav Adolf. This picture, titled King Gustav III of Sweden and his Brothers, is a 1771 oil-on-canvas painting by Alexander Roslin. It shows Gustav (seated, left) with his two brothers, Frederick Adolf (standing) and Charles (seated, right). It is now in the National museum in Stockholm.