DIANE'S CORNER ..
Celebrate Int's Whale Shark Day
The bunnies have got Easter sewn up and Christmas is all about Rudolph, so it’s only fair that everyone’s favourite fish, the whale shark, gets a bite at the cherry.
International Whale Shark Day has been designed so that we can celebrate and increase awareness about these amazing sea-dwelling creatures. We need to protect and conserve the whale shark, as their numbers are declining. These gentle giants fascinate aquatic enthusiasts and marine biologists alike, yet it is up to us to make sure that their numbers increase and their futures are protected. This is what International Whale Shark Day is all about.
Whale sharks are incredible to look at, and even more fascinating to learn about. However, they are becoming endangered. They are actually one of the most vulnerable marine animals according to the IUCN, which is the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Some interesting facts about whale sharks
Are they sharks? Or, are they whales? A whale shark is a shark. Let’s get that cleared up first and foremost. In fact, a whale shark is the biggest living species of shark on our planet. They can grow up to 14 meters in length, as well as weighing an average of 12 ton. Despite the fact that they are so big, their teeth are very small, measuring only six millimeters in length.
One of the most fascinating facts about whale sharks is that they all have a unique pattern. The skin of a whale shark is fully unique, just like the fingerprint of a human. This gives researchers the ability to run visual analytics on a whale shark so that they can identify and track it correctly.
One of the reasons why whale sharks are so vulnerable is because they move at shallow depths, and they move slowly in the ocean. They prefer to roam seas that have around a 50-meter depth, despite the fact that they can dive up to 1,000 meters. In terms of speed, they swim at approximately five kilometers per hour. Because of this, they are highly vulnerable to getting caught in fishing nets and ship collisions.
History of International Whale Shark Day
Started in 2012, International Whale Shark Day celebrates these gentle giants. Growing up to 14 metres long and 12 tons heavy, whale sharks have a face only a mother could love: no whale shark will ever win a beauty contest, so it’s right they’re made to feel special one day a year. However, there’s a serious purpose to the day, which aims to raise awareness of how this animal has been hunted to vulnerability for its highly prized fins and meat.
In fact, in 2016, the whale shark was reclassified by the IUCN, moving from a vulnerable species to an endangered one, which is incredibly worrying. According to some estimates, it is believed that there are only tens of thousands of these sharks life across the globe. There are a number of different reasons why whale sharks are declining. Of course, hunting has a huge role to play. However, there are also cases of whale sharks colliding with boats, as well as these sharks getting trapped in fishing gear. In some parts of Asia, products that are made from whale sharks are in very high demand.
Of course, we cannot talk about the threat to any sort of ocean life without mentioning plastic. Waste plastics find their way into our oceans. A whale shark can easily end up ingesting plastic, and this can cause a lot of issues, as it can get lodged into the whale’s digestive tract. When this happens, the whale will usually starve to death, as it is not going to be able to eat anymore. When you take everything that has been mentioned into account, it is not hard to see why the lives of so many whale sharks are threatened and why we need to do our bit in order to protect this endangered species.
JOKE OF THE DAY
Did you hear about the first restaurant to open on the moon?
It had great food, but no atmosphere.
WORD OF THE DAY
blackguard
MEANING:noun: 1. A scoundrel. 2. A foul-mouthed person. verb tr.: To disparage with abusive language. verb intr.: To speak abusively.
ETYMOLOGY:From a blackguard, a person who did menial work in the kitchen of a noble household. Such a person may be responsible for pots and pans. Hence black + guard. Typically such persons were treated derisively. Earliest documented use: 1535.
USAGE:“To write a novel is to be in the clutches of a cast of tyrants and blackguards.”
His Other Hand -- Collected Poems 1953-1993 by John Updike; The Economist (London, UK); Jan 29, 1994.
“Mr Walker said his client had been ‘blackguarded in a tabloid publication’.”
Georgina Mitchell; Suggestion Rush Recited Lines ‘A Slur’; Sydney Morning Herald (Australia); Nov 6, 2019.
| noun: | 1. A scoundrel. |
| 2. A foul-mouthed person. | |
| verb tr.: | To disparage with abusive language. |
| verb intr.: | To speak abusively. |
His Other Hand -- Collected Poems 1953-1993 by John Updike; The Economist (London, UK); Jan 29, 1994.
“Mr Walker said his client had been ‘blackguarded in a tabloid publication’.”
Georgina Mitchell; Suggestion Rush Recited Lines ‘A Slur’; Sydney Morning Herald (Australia); Nov 6, 2019.
TODAY'S ARTIST
thanks, Natalie
Laura Muntz Lyall RCA (June 18, 1860 – December 9, 1930) 
was a Canadian Impressionist painter, known for her sympathetic portrayal of women and children.
IDIOM OF THE DAY
What does 'Batten down the hatches' mean?
What does 'Batten down the hatches' mean?
Meaning: If you batten down the hatches, you prepare for the worst that could happen to you.
DAILY SQUEEK
Meaning: If you batten down the hatches, you prepare for the worst that could happen to you.
DAILY SQUEEK
If You Were Born Today, August 30
You are an incredibly generous person who will bend over backward to help out a friend or loved one. You are that especially thoughtful person who remembers the "little things" about others. You are also very perceptive and people-aware. A humanitarian, you are sentimental without being sappy. You may tend to micro-manage your family and loved ones at times, as you seem to worry a lot about your future and your loved ones' happiness. It's best to be careful with this so that others don't perceive you as controlling or critical. Moodiness can be a problem for you at times. Learning to detach yourself and take a step back from situations will help you succeed in life. Your finances tend to fluctuate more than most. You are attracted to talented and successful people. You likely deal with restlessness and changeability in your partnerships, and there could be many ups and downs in love. Famous people born today:
1797 Mary Shelley, English author (Frankenstein), born in London, England (d. 1851)
1871 Ernest Rutherford [1st Baron Rutherford of Nelson], New Zealand physicist and father of nuclear physics (Nobel 1908), born in Brightwater, New Zealand (d. 1937)
1898 Shirley Booth, American actress (Hazel), born in NYC, New York (d. 1992)
1930 Warren Buffett, American business magnate (world's wealthiest person in 2008), born in Omaha, Nebraska
1943 Robert Crumb, American cartoonist (Father Time, Fritz Cat) and album cover artist (Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1972 Cameron Diaz, American actress (Shrek, The Mask, My Best Friend's Wedding), born in Long Beach, California
(Not So) TOTALLY USELESS FACTS OF THE DAY
If You Were Born Today, August 30
You are an incredibly generous person who will bend over backward to help out a friend or loved one. You are that especially thoughtful person who remembers the "little things" about others. You are also very perceptive and people-aware. A humanitarian, you are sentimental without being sappy. You may tend to micro-manage your family and loved ones at times, as you seem to worry a lot about your future and your loved ones' happiness. It's best to be careful with this so that others don't perceive you as controlling or critical. Moodiness can be a problem for you at times. Learning to detach yourself and take a step back from situations will help you succeed in life. Your finances tend to fluctuate more than most. You are attracted to talented and successful people. You likely deal with restlessness and changeability in your partnerships, and there could be many ups and downs in love. Famous people born today:
It's estimated that only 10-20% of the human population can wiggle their ears and raise one eyebrow.
The term "military grade" is a marketing trick. In the armed forces, "military-grade" is simply the cheapest product that gets the job done.
"Rhinorrhea" is the medical term for a runny nose.
READERS INFO
1.
1983 -
U.S. astronaut Guion S. Bluford, Jr., became on this day in 1983 the first African American to travel into space, serving as a mission specialist aboard the shuttle orbiter Challenger, and later flew on three other missions.
2.Aug 31, 1997 -
Princess Diana was one of the most popular public figures in the world. Her death was met with a massive outpouring of grief. Mourners began visiting Kensington Palace immediately, leaving bouquets at the home where the princess, also known as Lady Di, would never return. Piles of flowers reached some 30 feet from the palace’s gate. 
3.Coronavirus Style by Sylvia, CAN DO CorrespondentLiquid Laundry Detergent (1/2 Gallon)
1/4 c. Borax
1/4 c. Washing Soda
1/4 c.Blue Dawn Dish Detergent
¼ t. Essential Oil, if desired for smelly laundry
Hot tap water
In a plastic 2-liter bottle put the sodas and fill halfway up with water. Shake well, then add the Dawn and essential oil. Gently top up with hot water and shake again before using. Use 2 T. For a medium load, and use undiluted for pre-treating dirty spots. Clearly mark the bottle with a permanent marker.
| Liquid Laundry Detergent (1/2 Gallon) 1/4 c. Borax In a plastic 2-liter bottle put the sodas and fill halfway up with water. Shake well, then add the Dawn and essential oil. Gently top up with hot water and shake again before using. Use 2 T. For a medium load, and use undiluted for pre-treating dirty spots. Clearly mark the bottle with a permanent marker. |
COFFEEthanks, Ella
COFFEE
PICTURES OF THE DAY
The insiders (China)
knit
thanks, Connie
knit
thanks, Connie
knit
crochet
PANTRY RECIPE
CROCKPOT RECIPE
VEGAN/ VEGETARIAN RECIPE
Both vegetarian and vegan diets may provide health benefits, including reduced body weight, lower cholesterol levels, and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, it is important for vegetarians and vegans to ensure that they are meeting all of their nutritional requirements.
SWEETS RECIPE
PUZZLE
WORD SEARCH
| abrupt altar aspect bench clear contradict court curse | earth every exception faith father fickle funny heart | kings learn often pagan quota | remove result right school seed seek slave speak sponsor stake | sues support suspend tact under verse voice withdraw |
SUDOKU
solution:
If You Could Only Speak One Word Today, What Would You Say?
QUOTE
OPTICAL ILLUSION
