Celebrate Grammar Day by crossing your I’s, dotting your T’s, and making sure that you’re correctly punctuating and structuring your sentences. Watch those apostrophes!
Word of the Day
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| Definition: | (noun) One who has the power and position to rule over others. | ||
| Synonyms: | dictator | ||
| Usage: | She was a potentate in her home, all her relatives being too cowed to protest her decisions. | ||
History
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 | Henry the Navigator, a Portuguese prince, figured strongly in Portugal's early development as a colonial empire. Though not a navigator himself, Henry was a great patron of exploration and is credited with establishing a school for navigators and encouraging the study of navigational instruments and cartography. Under his patronage, Portuguese sailors explored and colonized Madeira, the Cape Verde Islands, and the Azores. | ||
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 | Omizutori Matsuri is marked by religious rites that have been observed for 12 centuries at the Buddhist Todaiji Temple in the city of Nara, Japan. During this period of meditative rituals in the first two weeks of March, the drone of recited sutras and the sound of blowing conchs echo from the temple. On March 12, young monks on the temple gallery brandish burning pine-branches, shaking off burning pieces. Spectators below try to catch the sparks, believing they have magic power against evil. | ||
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 | Two gorgeous new species of peacock spiders nicknamed "Skeletorus" and "Sparklemuffin" have been discovered in Australia, according to a new report. | ||
1634 - Samuel Cole opened the first tavern in Boston, MA.
1791 - Vermont was admitted as the 14th U.S. state. It was the first addition to the original 13 American colonies.
1877 - Emile Berliner invented the microphone.
1881 - Eliza Ballou Garfield became the first mother of a U.S. President to live in the executive mansion.
1908 - The New York board of education banned the act of whipping students in school.
1914 - Doctor Fillatre successfully separated Siamese twins.
1950 - Walt Disney’s "Cinderella" was released across the U.S.
1954 - In Boston, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital reported the first successful kidney transplant.
1975 - Queen Elizabeth knighted Charlie Chaplin.
2002 - Canada banned human embryo cloning but permitted government-funded scientists to use embryos left over from fertility treatment or abortions.
If You Were Born Today, March 4
You have a strong sense of karma and tend to watch what you do and say as a result. You are responsible and caring, although not always patient when others around you are not doing their fair share. You are not a big risk taker, but you are not lacking in ambition either. You do slowly but surely work hard and push forward. You tend to be orderly and organized, or at the very least strive to be. Famous people born today: Patricia Heaton, Catherine O'Hara, Chastity Bono, Emilio Estefan, Joshua Bowman, Andrea Bowen.
Mixed Roots
Photograph by Felipe Jacome
The mangroves of the Cayapas Mataje Mangrove Reserve in northwestern Ecuador are the tallest in the world. The area is home to many Afro-Ecuadorian communities who rely on gathering black cockles that can be found in the mud of the mangroves and sold as a culinary delicacy. Picking shells is a tremendously arduous task, asconcheros have to crouch down for hours in knee-deep mud.
knit, 1 yr
knit
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Garter Stitch Mitts pattern by Ysolda Teague
Simple garter stitch fingerless mitts knit from side to side and shaped with short rows.
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knit
knit
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Farbenkreis (halsnaher Ausschnitt) pattern by christiane...
Don’t hesitate to let me know, if you found mistakes in the English version
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knit
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103-23 Tights in ”Fabel” and ”Alpaca” pattern by DROPS d...
Hip measures: 88/92- 96/100- 104/108- 112/116- 120/124 cm (34”/36”- 37”/39”- 41”/42”- 47”/49”)
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crochet
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crochet
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Recreated Openwork pattern by Cheri McEwen
A little over a year ago, a friend showed me a shawl made by her aunt. The aunt had passed away, but the shawl remained. It was an interesting stitch patter...
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crochet, xs - s
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Flora Danica pattern by Ines Jørgensen
This stunning Japan-inspired cardigan is worked in one piece and includes a floral pattern worked as an interesting colorwork.
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crochet
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crochet
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Preview by Yahoo
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TWO Purim recipes
Yummy Gluten-Free Hamantaschen
By Rella Kaplowitz
Yield:
7-8 dozen small hamantaschen |
This recipe makes hamentashen that are crispy on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside. If you prefer them to be completely crispy, bake an additional 2-3 minutes.
Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) of margarine, softened to room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 1/4 cups gluten-free all purpose flour, divided*
jam or other filling of your choice
Directions
*Make sure you choose a gluten-free flour that includes xanthan gum (I like Bob's Wonderful Bread Mix or Namaste Foods Perfect Flour Blend), or add 1 1/2 tsp of xanthan gum with the flour.
Cream margarine and sugar on high for 2-3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, allowing to combine before adding the next.
In a separate bowl, whisk together baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 3 cups of gluten-free flour (and xanthan gum if required). Turn mixer to the lowest speed and add to wet mixture a 1/2 cup at a time, allowing the dry ingredients to be incorporated before adding more. The dough should be soft but not sticky.
Divide the dough into four parts, roll each into a ball, wrap separately in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for an hour.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Dust the counter and the rolling pin with gluten-free flour. Remove 1 dough ball from the refrigerator and cut into circles using a 4 oz. mason jar or small juice glass (if the dough is too sticky to roll out and cut, add additional flour a tablespoon at a time until it is pliable enough). Fill with 1/4 tsp tsp of filling, pinch into a triangle, and bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
Repeat with remaining dough balls.
Rice Krispies Treats Hamantaschen
by Rebecca Pliner
Rice Krispie Treat Hamantaschen
Ingredients
6 cups Rice Krispie
10 oz mini marshmallows - DO NOT substitute fluff.
3 Tbsp butter or margarine
10 oz mini marshmallows - DO NOT substitute fluff.
3 Tbsp butter or margarine
Lollipop sticks
15 oz bar of semi-sweet chocolate
Sprinkles, candy or other decorative items
Directions
Grease a large bowl and the spatula you will be using. This will help avoid too much sticking.
In a microwave safe bowl melt the margarine with the marshmallows at 30 second intervals at full power. Stir after each interval. When melted, remove and pour into bowl with the Rice Krispies. Mix well until all are coated with marshmallow. Spread mixture into a greased sheet pan. Using your hands, spread mixture evenly onto pan, then press together so the Rice Krispie treats are compact. Allow to sit for several minutes at room temperature to cool.
Using the pictures as your guide, form the Rice Krispie treat mix into Hamantaschen shapes. Place lollipop stick into center.
Over a double broiler, melt 3/4 of a large bar (15 oz) of semi sweet chocolate. Reserve the last 1/4. Melt chocolate, stirring gently until all is melted. Take chocolate CAREFULLY off the double broiler. Be very careful not to let any water drip into chocolate. If this happens, you need to start over. Chocolate "seizes" when water gets into it. If this happens, the tempering process does not work.
Add in the remaining chocolate. Let sit in hot chocolate for 30 seconds, then stir.
Dip hamantaschen into chocolate, tap stick lightly to remove the excess chocolate. Place on parchment to let dry.
After 2 -3 dipped pops, start decorating before that chocolate sets in!
Use your favorite sprinkles, chocolate chips, oreos or candy to add your own flare.
crockpot recipe
stephanie o'dea
Mediterranean Chicken CrockPot Recipe
One of the really cool things about crockpot cooking is that you can throw frozen things in the crock to cool all day long and they will tenderize and release a whole bunch of flavor while they cook slowly in their own juices.
This is a grown-up version of lazy chicken. The taste is sophisticated, but the preparation takes all of twelve seconds. The most difficult part of this dinner was remembering to take a picture before we ate it all.
The Ingredients:
--3-4 frozen chicken breast halves
--bag of frozen artichoke hearts
--half jar of green olives (no juice)
--large can of tomatoes (and juice)
The Directions:
put everything in your crockpot.
turn on.
cook on low for 8 hours, high for 4-6.
Serve over pasta, rice, or quinoa. We ate it with quinoa, and it was a great pairing.
crafts
CHILDREN'S CORNER .. craft fun
Canned Food Stilts
by funology
What You Need:
- 2 empty metal food cans
- Old towel or rag
- Hammer
- Nail
- Thin rope
- Paint and brush (optional)
Instructions:
- Pack an old towel or rag tightly into each can. Use your hammer and nail to punch holes near the top of the closed end of the cans. Make the holes opposite each other.
- Cut two pieces of rope that measure about the length of your body.
- Take one piece of rope, thread it through one of the holes (towards the inside of the can) and tie a knot. The knot will be hidden inside the can.
- Thread the loose end of the rope through the other side of the can and tie a knot. Pull the rope tight and the knots will hold the rope in place.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 with the other can and piece of rope.
- If you like, decorate your stilts with paint.
- Be sure to wear tennis shoes, and start stilt-walking!
Note:
The part of the can where the holes are punched may be sharp so be careful!
puzzle
BUTTERFLY AZURE JIGSAW PUZZLE
http://www.jigzone.com/puzzles/daily-jigsaw
'where's the bathroom?' in Arabic (Lebanese) - Wayn el 7emmem?
quote
clever
Table Lamp
EYE OPENER
12 Exceptionally Long or Extremely Special Words
Antidisestablishmentarianism, everyone’s favorite agglutinative, entered the pop-culture lexicon on August 17, 1955, when Gloria Lockerman, a 12-year-old girl from Baltimore, correctly spelled it on The $64,000 Question as millions of people watched from their living rooms. At 28 letters, the word, which defines a 19th-century British political movement that opposes proposals for the disestablishment of the Church of England, is still regarded as the longest non-medical, non-coined, nontechnical word in the English language, yet it keeps some robust company. Here are some examples of the longest words by category.
1. METHIONYLTHREONYLTHREONYGLUTAMINYLARGINYL…ISOLEUCINE
Note the ellipses. All told, the full chemical name for the human protein titin is 189,819 letters, and takes about three-and-a-half hours to pronounce. The problem with including chemical names is that there’s essentially no limit to how long they can be. For example, naming a single strand of DNA, with its millions and millions of repeating base pairs, could eventually tab out at well over a billion letters.
2. LOPADOTEMACHOSELACHOGALEOKRANIOLEIPSAN…PTERYGON
The longest word ever to appear in literature comes from Aristophanes’ play, Assemblywomen, published in 391 BC. The Greek word tallies 171 letters, but translates to 183 in English. This mouthful refers to a fictional fricassee comprised of rotted dogfish head, wrasse, wood pigeon, and the roasted head of a dabchick, among other culinary morsels.
3. PNEUMONOULTRAMICROSCOPICSILICOVOLCANOCONIOSIS
At 45 letters, this is the longest word you’ll find in a major dictionary. An inflated version of silicosis, this is the full scientific name for a disease that causes inflammation in the lungs owing to the inhalation of very fine silica dust. Despite its inclusion in the dictionary, it’s generally considered superfluous, having been coined simply to claim the title of the longest English word.
4. PARASTRATIOSPHECOMYIA STRATIOSPHECOMYIOIDES
The longest accepted binomial construction, at 42 letters, is a species of soldier fly native to Thailand. With a lifespan of five to eight days, it’s unlikely one has ever survived long enough to hear it pronounced correctly.
5. PSEUDOPSEUDOHYPOPARATHYROIDISM
This 30-letter thyroid disorder is the longest non-coined word to appear in a major dictionary.
6. FLOCCINAUCINIHILIPILIFICATION
By virtue of having one more letter than antidisestablishmentarianism, this is the longest non-technical English word. A mash up of five Latin roots, it refers to the act of describing something as having little or no value. While it made the cut in the Oxford English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster volumes refuse to recognize it, chalking up its existence to little more than linguistic ephemera.
7. SUBDERMATOGLYPHIC
At 17 characters, this is the longest accepted isogram, a word in which every letter is used only once, and refers to the underlying dermal matrix that determines the pattern formed by the whorls, arches, and ridges of our fingerprints.
8. SQUIRRELLED
Though the more commonly accepted American English version carries only one L, both Oxford and Merriam-Webster dictionaries recognize this alternate spelling and condone its one syllable pronunciation (think “world”), making it the longest non-coined monosyllabic English word at 11 letters.
9. ABSTENTIOUS
One who doesn’t indulge in excesses, especially food and drink; at 11 letters this is the longest word to use all five vowels in order exactly once.
10. ROTAVATOR
A type of soil tiller, the longest non-coined palindromic word included in an English dictionary tallies nine letters. Detartrated, 11 letters, appears in some chemical glossaries, but is generally considered too arcane to qualify.
11. AND 12. CWTCH, EUOUAE
The longest words to appear in a major dictionary comprised entirely of either vowels or consonants. A Cwtch, or crwth, is from the Welsh word for a hiding place. Euouae, a medieval musical term, is technically a mnemonic, but has been accepted as a word in itself.
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