Monday, February 27, 2023

Polar Bear Day - February 27, 2023

DIANE'S CORNER .. 

Celebrate Polar Bear Day

Polar bears are furry and majestic beasts that roam across the cold Arctic ice. However, in the past few decades, sea ice in the Arctic has been melting at an alarmingly fast rate, leading the polar ice cap to shrink over time. Because of this, polar bears have been losing their habitats, their sources of food and, ultimately, dying from starvation and exhaustion.

International Polar Bear Day aims to raise awareness of the issues threatening these creatures and encourage change

Why polar bears are the perfect Arctic animal

Polar bears are the apex predators of the Arctic, perfectly adapted to the icy landscape and ocean. It’s thought that they diverged from the brown bear as far back as 6 million years ago – as they moved north, they gradually evolved to brave the formidable polar conditions.

With their thick fur and ample body fat providing plenty of insulation, along with their small ears and tails minimizing heat loss, these ice bears are often more at risk of overheating than they are of freezing! Pair this with their large, padded paws, which turn them into powerful swimmers as well as proficient Arctic explorers, able to spread their weight on thin ice and grip onto the slippery surface, and it’s no wonder these marine mammals dominate the food chain.

Polar bears are spread across the Arctic Ocean, from Alaska in the west to Russia in the east and with around two thirds found in Canada. They mainly eat seals, which they catch either by creeping up on them while they rest on the ice or more commonly through a method known as ‘still-hunting’, in which they lie in wait besides seals’ breathing holes, poised for their dinner to appear.

The Inuit and other Arctic peoples have a close relationship with these magnificent bears, showing them great respect in both their culture and their hunting techniques. Legends and folk tales depict the nanuq (the Inuit term for polar bear) as a wise and spiritual being with an affinity to humans. And when it comes to hunting, they make use of almost all parts of the bear for food, clothes, fuel and medicine, meaning nothing goes to waste.

History of International Polar Bear Day

Organized by Polar Bears International, International Polar Bear Day aims to raise awareness of the plight of polar bears and the threats they face, including disruption to denning and the effects of climate change.

Commercial activities such as oil and gas exploration, shipping, mining and tourism have been affecting the polar bear’s habitat and ability to survive, in particular by encroaching on the terrain that mother bears use to build dens and raise their cubs.

Alongside these industries competing for precious space in the Arctic, the polar ice cap on which the bears depend is also melting due to climate change. They live off of the sea ice, relying on it for hunting, traveling, breeding and denning. And it’s vital that they maintain sufficient fat reserves to protect against the cold. Depleted sea ice affects both their food source and their habitat, increasing the risk of starvation and making it harder to raise cubs.

As a result of these developments, polar bears have been classed as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which means this beautiful species could decline by over a third within three generations and is potentially at risk of extinction if temperatures continue to increase.

International Polar Bear Day is therefore all about conservation. To celebrate, people take the time to learn about polar bears, their ecosystem and how our actions have been harming their existence. They also pledge to reduce their carbon footprint and to speak with others about the effects that climate change has on polar bears.


thanks, Michele, Picture Coordinator



JOKE OF THE DAY 







WORD OF THE DAY






TODAY'S ARTIST thanks, Natalie
Charles Williams (born 16 March 1965)
is a British artist. He is a founding member of the Stuckist art group and a member of the New English Art Club.


IDIOM OF THE DAY
What does 'bring to the table mean?


Meaning:

If you bring something to the table, you make a contribution or an offer in a discussion or negotiation.






thanks, Patsy








(Not So) TOTALLY USELESS FACTS OF THE DAY

When you zone out, small areas of your brain fall asleep.

The word 'mortgage' comes from a French word that means "death contract".

Humans can't walk in a straight line without a visual reference. When blindfolded, you'll gradually walk in a circle.


YOUR CALL by Sylvia, CAN DO Correspondent

ITALIAN PASTA WITH BURRATA AND CHERRY TOMATOES







COFFEE thanks, Ella





PICTURES OF THE DAY

The Inquisition Tribunal is a 46-by-73-centimetre (18 by 29 in) oil-on-panel painting produced by the Spanish artist Francisco Goya between 1812 and 1819. It depicts an auto-da-fé by a tribunal of the Spanish Inquisition taking place inside a church. The officials in the scene are predominantly monks, with only a single secular judge present, while the four accused are wearing tall, pointed corozas or capirotes (white pointed hats) on their heads and clad in sanbenitos describing their offences. The painting is now in the collection of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid.

Comedy - Wildlife

‘Excuse Me, Pardon Me’











knit
thanks, Leah
Camille - Knitted Teddy

knit
thanks, Connie
Cambrie Blanket

knit
Benedicte

knit
Three Squares Bag

knit
Check Knit Vest






CROCHET PATTERNS OF THE DAY 
thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

crochet




RECIPE thanks, Shelley, NY Food Correspondent








PANTRY RECIPE thanks, Debbie







CROCKPOT RECIPE thanks, Judy






VEGAN/ VEGETARIAN RECIPE thanks, Alice

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.







COPYCAT RECIPE thanks, Jenny






RETRO RECIPE thanks, Ann



SWEETS RECIPE thanks, Sandy

Chocolate Spice Brownies





ADULT COLORING









FUN thanks, 
Given the word STANDARD, take away two letters and then add three digits to make a logical sequence.


answer:

Remove the two letters A to get ST-ND-RD and then add the digits 1, 2, 3 to get 1ST-2ND-3RD.




CRAFTS 
thanks, Hazel
The Beauty of Sashiko Stitching
This is an age-old method for repairing and adding texture to clothing: the sashiko stitch. Translated to “little stabs” in Japanese, this basic stitch (essentially a running stitch, also used in quilting) is easy to learn but surprisingly elegant in its simplicity. With just some embroidery thread, a little patience (ok, maybe a lot), and a few simple stitches, you can add pattern, line, and texture to your wardrobe.

Materials:
Embroidery thread
Scissors
Embroidery needle
Clothing
Tailor’s chalk (or white chalk)

Before you begin sewing, mark off the pattern that you intend to follow with the white chalk. This allows you to plan out multiple patterns and will ensure that your stitches stay straight. Because this stitching is delicate, it’s best to do this on a garment that you don’t mind hand washing.
Select the first color that you plan to work with, tie a knot in the end of the thread, and begin stitching. The sashiko stitch is a basic running stitch, also used in quilting – use this stitch to follow the patterns drawn with the chalk.
Repeat with the other colors of thread until you’ve completed your design.







CHILDREN'S CORNER thanks, 
















PUZZLE
Guitar Headstock Jigsaw Puzzle









WORD SEARCH













SUDOKU 









ICE BREAKER thanks, Kris
You can use 'ice breaker questions' to build a rapport, enabling strangers to engage in back and forth conversion. With a little practice and possibly a beer or two, you’ll be breaking more ice than the Titanic. 

What Are You Most Likely To Become Famous For?













QUOTE 
thanks, Helen
















CLEVER thanks, Michele

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