World Health Day is celebrated every year on the founding day of the World Health Organization. Established in 1950 this event has a theme each year to draw attention to a current world health issue. The WHO puts together regional, local, and international events on this day related to that theme. Local governments also tend to jump on this band-wagon, after all, global health means everyone! On this day you may take some extra steps to care for your health, consider getting a gym membership (and going!), starting a diet, or starting multi-vitamins!
The World Health Organization is an agency of the United Nations that focuses on the public health of the world at large. The WHO has a constitution that countries involved in the United Nations had an opportunity to sign, and unanimously did, agreeing to the tenets laid out within to promote the general health of the globe. Through its efforts we have seen the eradication of small pox, and its focus then turned to communicable diseases, with a particular focus on tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
As you can see, celebrating World Health Day is very important, and you can use it to organize fund-raisers to support local free clinics and other public health sources. Everyone can take a hand in improving the overall health of the world, just by starting with yourself, your family, and your community. Blood banks are often taking volunteers to help out with their efforts, and the ability to have healthy, fresh blood on hand is central to saving many lives.
Word of the Day
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| Definition: | (noun) A compact or close-knit body of people. | ||
| Synonyms: | crowd, unit | ||
| Usage: | The party members disagreed on many topics, but when it came to social issues, they formed a solid phalanx. | ||
History
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 | Born into America's political establishment, Dulles became an extremely influential governmental figure, eventually serving eight years as the US Director of Central Intelligence. He resigned in 1961, after a series of controversial events—most notably the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba—aroused criticism of the Central Intelligence Agency. Two years later, he was appointed to the Warren Commission to investigate the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. | ||
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 | The old custom of "selling by candle" is still observed in scattered locations throughout England, among them the village of Tatworth in Somerset. Every year on the Tuesday following April 6, six acres of valuable watercress-growing land are leased to the highest bidder. The bidders gather behind locked doors in a room illuminated only by a candle stuck to a board. A pin is inserted into the candle an inch below the flame; as the candle burns, the melting wax eventually releases the pin. The person who got the last bid in before the pin dropped will be able to use the land in the year to come. | ||
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 | An optical illusion created by MIT shows Marilyn Monroe from far away, but changes to Albert Einstein up close. The illusion offers clues as to how our brains process the details in images or scenes. | ||
1930 - The first steel columns were set for the Empire State Building.
1940 - Booker T. Washington became the first black to be pictured on a U.S. postage stamp.
1963 - At the age of 23, Jack Nicklaus became the youngest golfer to win the Green Jacket at the Masters Tournament.
1970 - John Wayne won his first and only Oscar for his role in "True Grit." He had been in over 200 films.
1990 - At Cincinnati's Contemporary Arts Center a display of Robert Mapplethorpe's photographs went on display. On the same day the center and its director were indicted on obscenity charges. The charges resulted in acquittal.
1998 - Mary Bono, the widow of Sonny Bono, won a special election to serve out the remainder of her husband's congressional term.
The First 45 RPM Released on This Date, 1949
“Texarkana Baby” by Eddy Arnold (above) was the world’s first commercially
released 45 RPM record in 1949. At first each genre of music had it’s own
color of vinyl, Popular releases on standard black, Country were on green,
Children’s records were on yellow, R&B and Gospel were released on
orange vinyl and Classical singles used red vinyl. Eventually, RCA
soon ended it’s colored vinyl lines due to the production cost.
released 45 RPM record in 1949. At first each genre of music had it’s own
color of vinyl, Popular releases on standard black, Country were on green,
Children’s records were on yellow, R&B and Gospel were released on
orange vinyl and Classical singles used red vinyl. Eventually, RCA
soon ended it’s colored vinyl lines due to the production cost.
If You Were Born Today, April 7
You are hungry for experience, and this trait certainly makes your life interesting. Very creative and innovative, you are forward-looking and sometimes leave things behind perhaps too easily as you find something else that captures your enthusiasm. You are not always good at listening, and you prefer to be in control. You are capable of great success. Famous people born today: Jackie Chan, Billie Holiday, Russell Crowe, James Garner, Francis Ford Coppola, John Oates.
Grand Torino
Photograph by Prandoni Livio, National Geographic
For Prandoni Livio our city lives are, more and more, lived fleetingly. Livio was on a trip to Turin, Italy, when he captured this shot of a passing tram. “I look around to discover new situations and photographic opportunities,” he writes. Seeing the passing tram, Livio “concentrated on [the] situation, trying to find the right angles and [waiting] for the passage of people to make the photo dynamic.”
knit
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Knitting Buddies (+ a FREE Big Bow Hair Clip Project)
As a new knitter, one of my favorite things to do is knit at lunchtime. It’s a nice relaxing break in the workday, plus I get the chance to hang out with some of...
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Armchair Caddy pattern by Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores
Piece is worked with two strands (and three when indicated) throughout.
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Art Threads: Knit Washcloth - Owl
It's a beautiful morning! The doves are sunning themselves, the bees are busy, and I have another knitted washcloth finished.
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knit
Knit a floppy dog
A very low-cost, low-maintenance dog that requires no walking or feeding. Why aren't we all knitting our own pets?
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crochet
crochet
crochet, vintage
crochet
crochet
RECIPE
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CROCKPOT RECIPE
stephanie o'dea
Roasted Garlic in the CrockPot
Roasted garlic is ooey and gooey and delicious. I ate an entire head of this! Roasting garlic creates a mellow, somewhat nutty flavor from the garlic. The softened garlic is also easily spread on your favorite crackers or pieces of crusty bread--creating a wonderful snack or appetizer.
The Ingredients.
--bulbs of garlic. I'd estimate at least a full bulb per grown-up.
--aluminum foil
The Directions.
--cut the very end of the bulb of garlic off. You want to keep it wrapped in the outer skin layers, but have just a bit of some of the cloves exposed.
--wrap each bulb in it's own piece of foil.
--plop into crockpot and cook on low for 4-5 hours.
--unwrap the foil, and squeeze the bulb. If garlic squirts out (like a tube of frosting) it is done. If not, wrap back up and cook for another hour or so.
The Verdict.
This is a great snack, will clear your sinuses, and ward off vampires.Tthat's quite the trifecta...
Frida Kahlo
CRAFT, felt
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CHILDREN'S CORNER ... coloring
PUZZLE
WHO WERE THE AMAZING ROSS SISTERS?
Betsy Ann Ross, Dixie Jewel Ross, and Veda Victoria Ross, known as Aggie, Elmira, and Maggie respectively, were three Texas born sisters who had moderate success in showbiz in the 1940’s. They were known for snazzy dances that incorporated incredible contorted moves.
It is from the 1944 film, Broadway Rhythm, and it features the three Ross Sisters in a rendition of Solid Potato Salad.I’m not exactly sure what “solid potato salad” means, but the song is spectacular nonetheless.
The dance starts of innocuous enough until you get to about the one minute mark. That’s when the mind-blowing body contortions begin!
Ripley’s has a rich history of featuring spectacular performers similar to the Ross Sisters. Take a look below!
Jaqueline Terry
At age 17, Jaqueline Terry of Montgomery, Alabama, could perform this rare and difficult jaw balance.
THE HUMAN BELT
Los Angeles dancer Miss Renee DeLue and her partner, Ruby Dale, demonstrate their version of a human belt. Appreciative audiences put them on a pedestal for many years (August 29, 1946)
LORRAINE CHEVALIER
Lorrain Chevalier
A direct descendant of the Chevalier Troupe of acrobats, Lorraine Chevalier of Philadelphia, PA, was actually able to sit on her own head!
ALMA YNCLAN
Alma was known as The Living Cross. She could contort her body into almost any position.
F. VELEZ CAMPOS
F. Velez Campos, dislocationist, strikes a peculiar pose in Fortuna, Puerto Rico (September 23, 1933)
THE HUMAN FLAGPOLE
Perry L Biddle of DeFuniak Springs, FL, hoists himself up into a human flag position on his ninetieth birthday!
Perry L Biddle
QUOTE
'where's the bathroom?' in Latvian - Kur ir tualete?
CLEVER
EYE OPENER
World's Weirdest Flowers
oddbee
Monkey Face Orchid (Dracula simia)
Photo courtesy of Dick Culbert (Photo Source)
Let's face it (pun intended), naming this little guy didn't take a whole lot of imagination – “Dracula," a flower named as such because of its two long, fang-like petals and “Simia” for its resemblance to primates. Its two dark eyes, fuzzy dotted eyebrows, and furry nose and beard area bear striking simian resemblances that become even more obvious when viewed from a distance. (It might as well be called the baboon faced orchid, but who's keeping track?)
The Monkey Face Orchid is incredibly rare so don't get upset if you've never seen one before. It is only found in the cloud forests of Peru and southeastern Ecuador at altitudes of more than 3,000 feet. It can bloom all year round, thrives in intermediate-to-warm weather, and its flowers smell like ripe oranges, making it a prized addition to any orchid connoisseurs garden.
The Monkey Face Orchid is incredibly rare so don't get upset if you've never seen one before. It is only found in the cloud forests of Peru and southeastern Ecuador at altitudes of more than 3,000 feet. It can bloom all year round, thrives in intermediate-to-warm weather, and its flowers smell like ripe oranges, making it a prized addition to any orchid connoisseurs garden.
Devils Hand (Chiranthodendron pentadactylon)
Photo courtesy of Josh*m (Photo Source)
If idle hands are the devil's workshop, we're not sure what the Devil's Hands are, but we sure love to look at them and play with them! Some call this tree the Monkey's Hand, Hand-Flower or Monkey Paw, but we wouldn't recommend making any wishes on it.
The Devil's Hand is native to Mexico where the Ancient Aztecs held it in especially high religious regard and harvested the claw-like flowers for generations. The fruit produced by this tree has an earthy taste and has been used for years in traditional medicine to treat many afflictions from heart disease to a variety of other conditions. The claw part of this flower emerges from the otherwise normal-looking bloom, like an unholy creature emerging to snatch its prey.
Unlike some tropical plants the Devil's Hand tree is extremely hardy and can grow relatively fast, reaching upwards of 35–90 feet tall!
The Devil's Hand is native to Mexico where the Ancient Aztecs held it in especially high religious regard and harvested the claw-like flowers for generations. The fruit produced by this tree has an earthy taste and has been used for years in traditional medicine to treat many afflictions from heart disease to a variety of other conditions. The claw part of this flower emerges from the otherwise normal-looking bloom, like an unholy creature emerging to snatch its prey.
Unlike some tropical plants the Devil's Hand tree is extremely hardy and can grow relatively fast, reaching upwards of 35–90 feet tall!
Parrot Flower (Impatiens psittacina)
If you've never seen a Parrot Flower before you're not alone. We're talking about a flower so rare that many people still doubt it's actual existence. Thailand' Parrot Flower is also known as the “parrot balsam,” and is classified as endangered and not allowed out of the country. If you want to find out whether or not this little wonder exists, you'll have to book a flight to visit Manipur, India, Burma or a tiny region in northern Thailand near Chiang Mai.
When you look at the flower's side profile, it looks just like a parrot or cockatoo in flight! When images of the Parrot Flower began to circulate on the internet, they were dismissed as being digitally manipulated because very few people had actually seen one.
When you look at the flower's side profile, it looks just like a parrot or cockatoo in flight! When images of the Parrot Flower began to circulate on the internet, they were dismissed as being digitally manipulated because very few people had actually seen one.
Bee Orchid (Ophrys bombyliflora)
Photo courtesy of Bjorn S… (Photo Source)
This happy little guy gets its name from its uncanny resemblance to a smiling bumblebee, that is if bumblebees could smile. Its name comes from the Greek word “ophrys,” meaning eyebrow, which perhaps refers to the fuzzy bits around the edge of the flower. Some Bee Orchids stick to the cream, brown and gold color scheme while others have a pinkish hue to their petals.
You'd think that the Bee Orchid got its name from looking like, well, a honeybee, but you'd be wrong. The Bee Orchid got its nickname because bees are this flower's main pollinator. The flower is native to Malta, and it's becoming more and more scarce because the propagation process is so difficult. You see, the Bee Orchid requires a symbiotic relationship with a certain type of fungus in order to successfully grow, which makes transplanting it extremely difficult.
Bee Orchids thrive in grasslands, but surprisingly enough, they have also have been found growing out of dry, chalky limestone! This orchid is also cleverer than it appears. The coloring and shape of the flower mimic the look and smell of a female bee, which entices male bees towards it to mate, thus expediting the pollination process!
While Australian Bee Orchids have a healthy population of pollinators nearby, other parts of the world aren't as lucky.
You'd think that the Bee Orchid got its name from looking like, well, a honeybee, but you'd be wrong. The Bee Orchid got its nickname because bees are this flower's main pollinator. The flower is native to Malta, and it's becoming more and more scarce because the propagation process is so difficult. You see, the Bee Orchid requires a symbiotic relationship with a certain type of fungus in order to successfully grow, which makes transplanting it extremely difficult.
Bee Orchids thrive in grasslands, but surprisingly enough, they have also have been found growing out of dry, chalky limestone! This orchid is also cleverer than it appears. The coloring and shape of the flower mimic the look and smell of a female bee, which entices male bees towards it to mate, thus expediting the pollination process!
While Australian Bee Orchids have a healthy population of pollinators nearby, other parts of the world aren't as lucky.
Swaddled Babies (Anguloa uniflora)
Photo courtesy of Tim Waters (Photo Source)
Too cute! These adorable little tulip orchids, nicknamed Swaddled Babies, were discovered in the Colombian Andes during a ten-year expedition between 1777-1788 but weren't named and officially classified until 1798.
During certain times of this complex plant's blooming stage, the flowers unique shape resembles that of a baby all wrapped up in white swaddling. In their native South American habitat, the Swaddled Babies Orchid is a summer bloomer, and not hard to miss if you know what to look for. The white, waxy flowers can grow up to 10cm across and smell amazingly sweet. Their tempting scent attracts insects to the hinged lip of the petal. The unsuspecting creatures are shoved into the column, where a pack of pollen then attaches itself to their abdomens, increasing pollination. (Source)
During certain times of this complex plant's blooming stage, the flowers unique shape resembles that of a baby all wrapped up in white swaddling. In their native South American habitat, the Swaddled Babies Orchid is a summer bloomer, and not hard to miss if you know what to look for. The white, waxy flowers can grow up to 10cm across and smell amazingly sweet. Their tempting scent attracts insects to the hinged lip of the petal. The unsuspecting creatures are shoved into the column, where a pack of pollen then attaches itself to their abdomens, increasing pollination. (Source)
Bat-faced Cuphea (Cuphea llavea)
Photo courtesy of JKehoe (Photo Source)
Another strikingly beautiful flower that we're not sure if we should run from – the Bat Face Cuphea (Cuphea Iluvea). This heat-loving perennial is native to Mexico and grows in sprawling mounds that are characterized by their bright red and dark purple tubular flowers resembling the face of a bat.
The Bat Face Cuphea, also known as the Cigar Plant, Peter's Plant or Bunny Ears, grows anywhere between 1' and 2' tall, with hairy, trowel-like leaves. The plant is extremely drought-resistant and heat-tolerant, but still enjoys a good watering once per week. Bat Face Cupheas don't simply add pops and splashes of color to the garden; they attract hummingbirds and butterflies, too! Swallowtail and Sulphur butterflies especially enjoy the sweet nectar hidden inside the little Bat Faces.
The Bat Face Cuphea, also known as the Cigar Plant, Peter's Plant or Bunny Ears, grows anywhere between 1' and 2' tall, with hairy, trowel-like leaves. The plant is extremely drought-resistant and heat-tolerant, but still enjoys a good watering once per week. Bat Face Cupheas don't simply add pops and splashes of color to the garden; they attract hummingbirds and butterflies, too! Swallowtail and Sulphur butterflies especially enjoy the sweet nectar hidden inside the little Bat Faces.
Lithops Weberi (Lithops comptonii)
Photo courtesy of Harry Harms (Photo Source)
You may have heard of a pet stone before, but a flowering stone? Nope, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you; it's Lithops Weberi, otherwise known as Living Stones. These awesome succulents are perfect indoors, especially for folks whose thumbs are not so green.
Like most succulents, the Lithops Weberi is extra hardy and remains unfazed with changes in conditions or environment. These little wonders are native only to South Africa, where their evolutionary progress turned them into a drought-proof plant.
When Lithops bloom, it looks extraordinary, with a white or yellow daisy poking out from what appears to be solid stone. And talk about easy to propagate! If you want to multiply your Living Stones, simply take a leaf off of one, stick it into the pebble bed, and it will take root. That's it.
Like most succulents, the Lithops Weberi is extra hardy and remains unfazed with changes in conditions or environment. These little wonders are native only to South Africa, where their evolutionary progress turned them into a drought-proof plant.
When Lithops bloom, it looks extraordinary, with a white or yellow daisy poking out from what appears to be solid stone. And talk about easy to propagate! If you want to multiply your Living Stones, simply take a leaf off of one, stick it into the pebble bed, and it will take root. That's it.
Corpse lily (Amorphophallus titanum)
Photo courtesy of Chris Freeland (Photo Source)
This monster of a plant was made famous in the movie Dennis the Menace. It blooms so infrequently that whenever one does, it often makes local and sometimes global headlines.
The Corpse Lily is technically a compound flower – though still considered the world's largest single flower – and only grows in Indonesia, specifically Sumatra. If you're wondering what kind of pollinators would be interested in such a stinky bud, the answer is carrion beetles and flies.
Surprised? It's name comes from the Ancient Greek “amorphos” which means, “without form, misshapen.” Not only is this flower extremely rare, but it's extremely large. Some can grow up to 12 feet tall with flowers weighing up to 25 pounds!
Despite its disgusting stench and a rather phallic appearance, the Corpse Lily is the official flower of the rain forests of Borneo. Another little-known fact about the Corpse Lily: each flower (if successfully pollinated, that is) can produce up to four million seeds.
The Corpse Lily is technically a compound flower – though still considered the world's largest single flower – and only grows in Indonesia, specifically Sumatra. If you're wondering what kind of pollinators would be interested in such a stinky bud, the answer is carrion beetles and flies.
Surprised? It's name comes from the Ancient Greek “amorphos” which means, “without form, misshapen.” Not only is this flower extremely rare, but it's extremely large. Some can grow up to 12 feet tall with flowers weighing up to 25 pounds!
Despite its disgusting stench and a rather phallic appearance, the Corpse Lily is the official flower of the rain forests of Borneo. Another little-known fact about the Corpse Lily: each flower (if successfully pollinated, that is) can produce up to four million seeds.
A Candle Auction sounds like great drama. Almost as exciting as waiting for the ice to go out on Joe's Pond! http://www.joespondvermont.com/iceout.php
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