DIANE'S CORNER ... Celebrate Lei Day

If there is one thing that speaks of the tropics, and specifically of Hawaii, it’s that colorful and festive string of flowers known as the Lei. Lei Day celebrates these traditional gifts for visitors to the islands, and to bring awareness to the little details about it that aren’t immediately apparent to the casual visitor. This celebration focuses on the Hawaiian culture, and the aloha spirit. Whether you’ve been to the jewel of the pacific or not, Lei Day is an opportunity to dream of the islands, and plan a visit (or a return!) to their lush green shores.

History of Lei Day

The Lei has played an important part in the history and culture of the native Hawaiian people. Anyone who has ever been there or seen images of the islands know that they are verdant and abundant playgrounds full of explosive color and sound that create a cacophony of peace and relaxation. Each of the islands have a flower that represent it, from the bright red lehua blossom from the Big Island, to the bright yellow Kauna’o flower of Lanai.

1929 saw the establishment of Lei Day, though celebrations of the event started 2 years prior in 1927 at the bank of Hawaii, and eventually landed in Kapi’olani park. Lei Day has a distinctive and unique style to it, with celebrations (sometimes contentiously) demonstrating the blend of cultures that have come to call the islands home. Everything from the musical traditions to styles of dance have all been incorporated to create an amazing blended culture that at its core is nothing but Hawaiian.

Concerns do exist that the blending of cultures throughout the islands will result in the loss of the Hawaiian cultural identity as generations go on, and that ethnic values will decline as well. Lei Day walks the line of this conflict by celebrating Hawaiian culture, and introducing others to it

Photographer Omahi is pulling back the curtain of photo shoots and showing what really goes on behind the scenes. He shares two photos in a single post. The first one is the fully realized shot that he always intended—fantastical portraits that have a lot of editing. Then there’s another photo that reveals the elaborate setup that Omahi created in order to make that first image a reality.

Word of the Day

pasteurize

Louis Pasteur in His Laboratory

MEANING:

verb tr.: To heat or irradiate something just long enough to kill pathogenic microorganisms.

ETYMOLOGY:

After Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), chemist and microbiologist, known for his discoveries in this area. Earliest documented use: 1881.

USAGE:

“Most pickles you find in a grocery store are pasteurized, making the product shelf stable without refrigeration for up to two years.”
Nina Misuraca Ignaczak; The Center of the Pickleverse; Crain’s Detroit Business (Michigan); Apr 8, 2019.

“[Wessex Water] now pasteurises its sewage and sells it as fertilizer.”
The Money in Europe’s Muck; The Economist (London, UK); Nov 20, 1993.

Idiom of the Day

With bells on -

Meaning - When you are delighted and eager to go somewhere, you are said to go with bells on.

Example - The new year party at the beach is most awaited. I will be there - with bells on.

This Day in History

1707 - England, Wales and Scotland were united to form Great Britain.

1786 - The Mozart opera "The Marriage of Figaro" premiered in Vienna.

1883 - William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) had his first Wild West Show.

1884 - The construction of the first American 10-story building began in Chicago, IL.

1889 - Asa Candler published a full-page advertisement in The Atlanta Journal, proclaiming his wholesale and retail drug business as "sole proprietors of Coca-Cola ... Delicious. Refreshing. Exhilarating. Invigorating." Mr. Candler did not actually achieve sole ownership until 1891 at a cost of $2,300.

1912 - In London's Kensington Gardens, a statue of Peter Pan was erected.

1922 - Charlie Robertson of the Chicago White Sox pitched a perfect no-hit, no-run game against the Detroit Tigers. The Sox won 3-0. Another perfect game did not come along until 46 years later.

1931 - The Empire State Building in New York was dedicated and opened. It was 102 stories tall and was the tallest building in the world at the time.

1941 - "Citizen Kane," directed and starring Orson Welles, premiered in New York.

1944 - The Messerschmitt Me 262, the first combat jet, made its first flight.

1950 - Gwendolyn Brooks became the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for her book of poetry called Annie Allen.

1958 - James Van Allen reported that two radiation belts encircled Earth.

1970 - Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin combined for the first time on Elton’s first American album "Elton John".

1971 - The National Railroad Passenger Corp. (Amtrak) went into service. It was established by the U.S. Congress to run the nation's intercity railroads.

1973 - "Marvin Gaye Day" was declared in Washington, DC.

1986 - The Tass News Agency reported the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident.

1986 - Bill Elliott set a stock car speed record with his Ford Thunderbird in Talladega, AL. Elliott reached a speed of 212.229 mph.

1999 - On Mount Everest, a group of U.S. mountain climbers discovered the body of George Mallory. Mallory had died in June of 1924 while trying to become the first person to reach the summit of Everest. At the time of the discovery it was unclear whether or not Mallory had actually reached the summit.

2011 - U.S. President Barack Obama announced that U.S. soldiers had killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.

DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, May 1

You are an independent, determined, and faithful person who is at once stable and restless! While you have a calm manner that soothes others simply by your mere presence, and you value security, you have a rather restless spirit and need to create some challenges for yourself in order to feel "alive". You remain youthful throughout life, with a mischievous quality that is unmistakable. Famous people born today:

1738 Kamehameha I, King of Hawaii (1782-1819), born in Kohala, Hawaii (d. 1819)

1769 Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington and British Prime Minister (Tory: 1828-30), born in Dublin, Ireland (d. 1852)

1852 Calamity Jane [Martha Jane Canary], American frontierswoman, born in Princeton, Missouri (d. 1903)

1939 Max Robinson, 1st African American network TV anchor (ABC), born in Richmond, Virginia (d. 1988)

1975 Jodhi May, British actress (A World Apart, The Other Boleyn Girl), born in London, England

READERS INFO

1.

1920 -

--On May 1, 1920: The Brooklyn Robins and the Boston Braves played 26 innings in a 1-1 tie game -- the most innings played in a major league baseball game. The game was eventually called by the umpire because it became too dark to play and the field did not have any lights. That same game produced another baseball record as Leon Cadore (Robins) and Joe Oeschger (Braves) both pitched for the entire 26 innings, resulting in both pitchers sharing the record for the most innings pitched in a game.

2.
1931 -

--On May 1, 1931: The Empire State Building in New York City was opened. It was the tallest building in the world until the construction of the World Trade Center. The 102-story building was a total of 1,454 feet tall including its antenna. The famous art deco building has been featured in numerous films and television shows, including the 1933 King Kong movie, which showed the giant ape climbing the building. The Empire State Building has long been a tourist destination with millions of visitors each year visiting the observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors. Back in 1931, it cost $1 (this would be about $16 in today's currency) to ride the elevator to the building's observation deck.

3.

North Carolina Strawberry Festival 2019

Apr 30 - May 4, 2019 | Chadbourn, NC

Find your summer spirit in the strawberry capital of the world—Chadbourn, North Carolina. Besides being the longest running agricultural festival in the state, the Strawberry Festival is also a major three-day party fit for the whole family. There’s a parade, pageants, crafts, entertainment of all shapes and sizes, clowns, beauty queens, live music and more strawberry shortcake than you can imagine.

further information: Home - NC Strawberry Festival

4.

Media Dining Under the Stars 2019

Every Wednesday Night - May 1 - Sept 27, 2019 | Media, PA

Along West State Street between Jackson and Orange Streets|W State St & S Olive St

Image result for Media Dining Under the Stars 2019 May 2019 Dates Unconfirmed | Media, PA

There’s nothing romantic about being stuffed in a dingy restaurant populated with sweaty diners. The City of Love inspires this festival in Media, Pennsylvania, by situating the dinner table under the night sky. Lit by shiny stars rather than wax candles, guests will dine in style with the area’s many restaurants.

further information: Dining Under The Stars - Visit Media PA

Pictures of the day

The asteroid 433 Eros was named after the Greek god of love Eros. This S-type asteroid is the second-largest near-Earth asteroid. This image shows the view looking from one end of the asteroid across the gouge on its underside and toward the opposite end.

Forest of the Fairy

yourshot tpoy nature hm2 takafuji The Winners of the 2017 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest

Shooting in the forest, this photograph was taken in the evening hours of a humid early summer day in the forest of a small remote village in the Tamba area of Japan. It beautifully captures the magical atmosphere of Princess fireflies carpeting a stairway leading to a small shrine revered by the local people.