Cuddle Up Day: It’s time to make yourself a hot chocolate with plenty of marshmallows, pull on your PJs and snuggle up with a teddy bear, a good book, or maybe even another human being if you’re especially lucky.
We’ve all got our personal responsibilities, from careers and family to finances and charity work, so we’re allowed a day to just relax and let all the week’s stresses melt away. Without the occasional day of rest and relaxation we’ll just burn out; even those who consider themselves dynamic go-getters and hard as nails need to cuddle up every now and then, whether they admit it or not.
So get that pillow all plumped up, pick out some DVDs and surround your bed or sofa with as many snacks as can fit within arm’s reach, because this isn’t your day to shine, it’s your day to cuddle up!
Word of the Day
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| Definition: | (adjective) Arousing to action or rebellion. | ||
| Synonyms: | inflammatory, incitive, instigative, rabble-rousing, seditious | ||
| Usage: | The incendiary remarks in the pamphlet spurred the villagers to revolt. | ||
Saying of the Day
Would you buy a used car from this man?
Possible interpretation: Do you trust this man? I don't.
Origin: This saying is attributed to the American comedian Mort Sahl (born 1927). It was often applied to USA President Richard Nixon, and is today used with regard to anyone who does not seem entirely trustworthy.
Variety: This is typically used in American English but may be used in other varieties of English too.
Variety: This is typically used in American English but may be used in other varieties of English too.
Quick Quiz:
If someone referred to you and said "Would you buy a used car from this man/woman?", you would probably be
b. delighted
c. a car dealer
History
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 | This tradition in Haxey, Lincolnshire, England, can be traced back more than 600 years, when Lady Mowbray, whose husband owned a large portion of Haxey, lost her hood to a gust of wind and 13 local men struggled gallantly to retrieve it. The game known as Throwing the Hood, which takes place on January 6 each year, involves a Lord (who acts as umpire), 13 Plough-Boggins, a Fool, and as many others as care to participate. The participants wrestle over a piece of leather stuffed with straw, coins, and other fillings. The winners carry it back to the village pub, where a victory celebration takes place. | ||
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 | Barrett, an English singer, songwriter, guitarist, and artist, was one of the founding members of Pink Floyd. The band formed in 1965, and it soon became the most popular group in the "London Underground" psychedelic music scene. As the group's popularity grew, Barrett began behaving increasingly erratically, and he left Pink Floyd in 1968 amid speculations of mental illness exacerbated by drug use. | ||
1759 - George Washington and Martha Dandridge Custis were married.
1838 - Samuel Morse publicly demonstrated the telegraph for the first time.
1941 - Alice Marble made her professional tennis debut when she defeated Ruth Hardwick of Great Britain at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
1942 - The first commercial around-the-world airline flight took place. Pan American Airlines was the company that made history with the feat.
1963 - "Wild Kingdom" premiered on NBC.
1987 - After a 29-year lapse, the Ford Thunderbird was presented with the Motor Trend Car of the Year Award. It was the first occurrence of a repeat winner of the award.
1994 - Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was clubbed on the right leg by an assailant at Cobo Arena in Detroit, MI. Four men were later sentenced to prison for the attack, including Tonya Harding's ex-husband.
1999 - Bob Newhart received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
If You Were Born Today, January 6:
Exceptionally hard working, your work means the world to you, and if you don't choose a career path that truly reflects your goals, you are unlikely to be very happy! You are a list maker, an organizer, and a person who loves order, even if you don't always feel you are orderly enough. You are at your best when you have a goal in mind. You are loyal and somewhat of a perfectionist. As peace-loving and security-minded as you are, there is a decidedly stubborn and argumentative side to your personality. Famous people born today: Syd Barrett, Carl Sandburg, Loretta Young, Rowan Atkinson, Bonnie Franklin.
Belgian's Wout Van Aert (L) and Netherlands' Mathieu Van Der Poel compete during the sixth stage in the Bpost Bank cyclocross trophy in Loenhout. Van Aert won the stage ahead of Der Poel and Belgium's Tom Meeusen.
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Lord of the Rings Cable Hat pattern by Kristin Tefft
This hat is inspired by the One Ring from The Lord of the Rings series and The Hobbit. The brim of the hat has the first line of the inscription from the one r...
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Kaihola pattern by Heidi Alander
This pattern got its name from a song by Finnish band Kotiteollisuus. Finnish word ”kaiho” means something like longing and yearning.
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Simply Stranded Earbud Pouch pattern by Deborah Toma...
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Marvin Moose - Free Knitting Patterns - Homewares Patter...
Create a cruelty-free woodland decoration with Amanda Berry's charming moose head. We've all seen those impressive-looking moose and reindeer heads...
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Ribelation pattern by Anne G.
The 1x1 rib as well as the smaller needles make for a dense, very warm hat. The stitch is also super stretchy so the pattern is written in one size with changes ...
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#72 Rose Swirl Crochet Dishcloth pattern by Kathleen Bon...
This beautiful Rose Swirl Dishcloth was designed by Kathleen Bonatti.
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Button-up Coffee Cozy pattern by Analise Hogan
Materials-Impeccable Ombres 1 skein
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Tentacle Crochet: Mr Moose is on the loose!
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Linda's (Diznemom's) Corner: Row Counts: Elvis 1
Chain 160. Rows: 1 - 4. 160W (160 stitches total) 5. 61W, 20B, 79W 6. 58W, 27B, 75W 7. 54W, 33B, 73W 8. 52W, 37B, 71W 9. 45W, 46B, 69W 1...
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Crochet Pattern: Sock Yarn Swirl Necklace
Sock yarn isn't just for socks anymore! Learn how to crochet a swirly necklace.
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Artichoke Lemon Dip Recipe | SimplyRecipes.com
Creamy artichoke dip made with artichoke hearts, Parmesan cheese, lemon, parsley, garlic, and cream cheese.
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Easy Peasy Hairpins
These Easy Peasy Hairpins are similar to the fashionable hair accessories for women sold in Anthropologie stores...but much less expensive! These easy D...
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'hello' in Hebrew: Shalom
10 Most Distinguished Works of Ancient Egyptian Art
Narmer's Palette (31st Century BC)
A small dark green schist stone which is carved into a shield-shaped ceremonial palette depicts pharaoh Narmer’s rise to power. But since Narmer is by many Egyptologists identified as (Pharaoh) Menes, the first ruler of the unified Egypt and the founder of the First Dynasty, the Narmer’s Palette thus also represents the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. The 23 inch high palette is decorated on both sides and has the distinction of being one of the oldest known ‘canvases’ of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic writing as well as being the oldest historical document in the world. It is now housed in the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada.
Khufu's Statue (26th Century BC)
The small ivory statue of Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops) is the only Khufu’s portrait discovered so far. Next to the Great Pyramid, the 7.5 cm (3 inch) statue is the only physical evidence of Khufu’s two decade-long reign. It was found by the famed English Egyptologist Flinders Petrie at the ancient necropolis of Abydos, south of the Temple of Osiris. Petrie’s team, however, had a problem. They uncovered the statue without its head. Luckily, they managed to find the missing head and the builder of the Great Pyramid finally got a face. Khufu’s Statue is today housed in the Cairo museum.
Egyptian Book of the Dead (16th Century BC)
Known to ancient Egyptians as the ‘Book of Coming Forth by Day’, the scroll was entombed with various people who were wealthy enough to afford such vital guide through the Underworld. One of these scrolls, belonging to a woman named Anhai who died in about 1100 BC (currently housed in the British Museum) is more than seventeen feet long when unrolled. The writings are a compilation of magic spells that assisted the deceased on their journey through the western land, amid a torrent of gods, monsters, and giant snakes. The spells were instructional and were adorned with beautifully intuitive pictures to ward off danger and gain the strength of lurking gods. Intricate and foretelling, the presence of familiar gardens, houses, animals, boats, family members, clothes, and food lavished the spiritual sojourner with understanding, comfort, and wisdom.
Astronomical Ceiling, Tomb of Senenmut
(15th Century BC)
Senenmut was the architect of the renowned Pharaoh Hatshepsut’s tomb complex although his own tomb is just as stunning. It features an astronomical map on the ceiling which is the world’s oldest map of its kind. The map consists of two sections - northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere. The northern section includes the earliest known twelve month Egyptian calendar illustration and representations of the northern constellations. The southern section of the map, on the other hand, lists decans (stars) and planets visible to the naked eye. Surprisingly, however, Mars is absent.
Thutmose III Statue (15th Century BC)
A basalt statue of Thutmose III is an artistic masterpiece, immortalizing the sixth Pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty. The stance of the statue and the gaze create an effect of a graceful yet powerful king. The face, however, also reflects a glimmer resemblance to his stepmother, aunt and temporary co-regent, Hatshepsut, all of whose statues he had destroyed when becoming a sole ruler. The statue that reveals the Pharaoh’s identity in the carved cartouche on his belt is housed in the Luxor Museum.
Amarna Period Art (14th Century BC)
During this period that coincides with the rule of pharaoh Akhenaten, ancient Egyptian art takes a distinctly unique form. People are depicted more realistically and life-like, their movement fluid, showing them in more intimate situations. Art wasn’t idealistically stiff and rigid anymore although the Pharaoh was always depicted lovingly with his family. Akhenaten himself is depicted with a large head, a long chin, and a less than perfect body; seeming to reveal who he was in reality rather than a physically perfect king. After Akhenaten’s death, however, ancient Egyptian artists returned to the previous artistic style.
Nefertiti Bust (14th Century BC)
A limestone bust, layered with painted stucco, immortalizes Akhenaten’s wife Nefertiti. The bust was created artist Thutmose and according to some, it represents the apex of the Amarna Period art. Nefertiti’s name meant ‘the beautiful one has come’ and admiration for her beauty is bestowed upon the statue by its artist. Although little is known about Nefertiti, the bust made her one of the most iconic figures of the ancient Egypt and antiquity as a whole. Since 1924, the Nefertiti Bust is in Berlin but the Egyptian authorities have been demanding its return ever since.
Tutankhamun's Golden Death Mask (14th Century BC)
Akhenaten’s son and successor Tutankhamun died at the age of 19 years, most likely from an infection which he developed after breaking his leg. He was buried with a twenty-four pound golden death mask that was placed over his head and shoulders. The mask is made from solid gold and is inlaid with blue glass, lapis lazuli and various semiprecious stones. It is thought to be slightly idealized but there is a general agreement that it is essentially a realistic portrait of the ‘Boy King’. Tutankhamun’s mask is housed in Cairo’s Egyptian Museum.
Throne of Tutankhamun (14th Century BC)
Tutankhamun’s cuboid-shaped throne was one of the most spectacular things Howard Carter saw when he entered the Pharaoh’s intact tomb in 1922. It is made from solid wood and covered with sheet gold and silver, and inlaid with semiprecious stones, colored glass and faience (ceramic). The overall style of the throne is one of the finest examples of the Amarna Period art which is reflected in the sun disc on the backrest (symbolizing Amun), more naturally styled birds and plants, scenes of the affectionate royal couple, and the physical features of the Pharaoh and his queen who are depicted with a high degree of realism.
Statue of Cleopatra VII Philopator (1st Century BC)
The black basalt statue is one of the most pristine images of the last Egyptian pharaoh, Cleopatra VII, presenting her in the midst of a stride, wearing a long form-fitting dress. The statue reveals the influence of ancient Greek art; Cleopatra wears a corkscrew wig and holds a cornucopia, a horn of plenty - though the front of her headdress is adorned with a uraeus (royal snakes), symbolic of Egyptian royalty. In her other hand she holds the ankh, the ancient hieroglyph meaning life. This masterpiece is housed at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
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