Say Something Nice Day began in Charleston, South Carolina, when the Mayors of North Charleston and Charleston came together with members of the Charleston-Atlantic Presbytery and the South Carolina Baptist Convention to create a day to be kind to the special people in our lives, like our children. It’s also a day to remember and celebrate people, who provide us with a variety of services, such as bus drivers, healthcare workers and teachers. And, it’s a great opportunity to apologize to people that we might have wronged or hurt through our behavior. The aim of this special day is to fight against unkindness, bullying and the lack of politeness that dominates society today. The creators hope that this one day of pleasantness will grow, until people are nice to each other everyday.
Set an example and encourage your children to be nice to each other on this day.
Word of the Day
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| Definition: | (verb) To increase, enlarge, or intensify. | ||
| Synonyms: | intensify, step up | ||
| Usage: | Tensions escalated as the politicians refused to compromise | ||
History
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 | Tanglewood is an estate and music venue in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and is the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival. It has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. Its summer school is one of the world's preeminent training grounds for composers, conductors, instrumentalists, and vocalists | ||
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 | Monroe was an American actress, world-famous sex symbol, and cultural icon. The onetime model made her screen debut in 1948 and was at first patronized by critics, but she studied acting and eventually won more challenging roles. Her private life, including her marriages to baseball star Joe DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller, has been subject to intense scrutiny, and her death from a barbiturate overdose at age 36 only increased her mystique. | ||
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 | Gawai Dayak is a rice harvest festival of the Dayak people of Sarawak, Malaysia, on the northern coast of Borneo. Some aspects of the celebrations have remained essentially the same for centuries. At midnight on the eve of Gawai Dayak, a house elder conducts the chief ritual: while sacrificing a white cock, he recites a poem to ask for guidance, blessings, and a long life. Other events include the selection of the most beautiful man and woman to be king and queen of the harvest, dancing, a feast of rice, eggs, and vegetables, and the serving of traditional tuak, rice wine. | ||
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 | Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, rented the home from October 1922 until April 1924. At the time, it was relatively modest, and Fitzgerald did his writing in a room over the garage. It was other houses around the bay that are said to have inspired the fictional grand mansions of Gatsby and the Buchanans (including their dock with the green light). | ||
1935 - The Ingersoll-Waterbury Company reported that it had produced 2.5 million Mickey Mouse watches during its 2-year association with Disney
1938 - Baseball helmets were worn for the first time
1954 - In the Peanuts comic strip, Linus' security blanket made its debut.
1961 - Radio listeners in New York, California, and Illinois were introduced to FM multiplex stereo broadcasting. A year later the FCC made this a standard.
1964 - The Rolling Stones arrived in New York to begin their first tour in the U.S.
1969 - In Montreal, John Lennon and Yoko Ono recorded "Give Peace a Chance" with Tommy and Dick Smothers, Derek Taylor, Murray the K and Timothy Leary.
1980 - Cable News Network (CNN) made its debut as the first all-news station.
2008 - The Phoenix Mars Lander became the first NASA spacecraft to scoop Martian soil.
77 Yesterday
Singer Peter Yarrow found fame with the 1960s folk music trio Peter,
Paul and Mary who sang "Puff, the Magic Dragon." In 1982, Yarrow
was the recipient of the Allard K. Lowenstein Award. He established
the anti-bullying group Operation Respect.
Paul and Mary who sang "Puff, the Magic Dragon." In 1982, Yarrow
was the recipient of the Allard K. Lowenstein Award. He established
the anti-bullying group Operation Respect.
DAILY SQU-EEK
If You Were Born Today, June 1
You are a true artist at heart. You see the world around you in a unique way, which endears you to others. You are thoughtful and curious. At times moody and at other times inspired, you can also vacillate between great practicality and idealism. You might find that following the dictates of your head, which is often your choice, gets you into more trouble than following your heart. Trusting your intuition is the challenge. Famous people born today: Marilyn Monroe, Morgan Freeman, Heidi Klum, Andy Griffith, Pat Boone, Ron Wood.
| Picture of the day | |
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The ChS8 is an electric mainline passenger locomotive used in Russia and Ukraine. Built between 1983 and 1989, it was developed for pulling long passenger trains (28–32 carriages) at speeds of 100 kilometres per hour (60 mph) or faster. Since 2010 Russia has switched to more energy-efficient designs, such as theEP10 and EP20.
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What Feeds Beneath
Photograph by Alejandro Prieto
While on an expedition at Todos Santos in south Baja California, Mexico, Alejandro Prieto was searching for big predators—such as marlins, sharks, or tuna—feeding on sardine bait balls, but instead he found this Hawaiian petrel feeding on crustaceans. “Luckily I was able to capture the moment it submerged its head to feed on the tiny food source,” Prieto writes.
knit
knit
knit
knit
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knit
crochet
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crochet
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Elephant Friends Crochet Pattern | Red Heart
Step 1. Choose your size One Size Elephant measures 10” (25.5 cm) tall.
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crochet
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Pansy Pot Holder pattern by Dot Drake
Also available at Free-Crochet.com. Free registration is required.
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crochet
crochet (must log in)
Beach House Table Runner
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RECIPE
WORLD'S EASIEST CHICKEN EMPANADAS
redbook
So not diet food, but low-cal anyway.
MAKE IT:
Heat oven to 375°F. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray and set aside.
1. In a medium bowl, season 6 oz cooked, shredded skinless chicken breast (about 1 breast) with salt and pepper, then add ¼ cup salsa. Mix well.
2. Roll out 1 package Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations Seamless Dough Sheet into a large rectangle of even thickness. Cut lengthwise into two even strips. Next, cut each strip across its width into thirds, so you're left with six rectangles of dough.
3. Stretch out each rectangle just a bit. Evenly distribute chicken mixture among centers of dough.
4. Fold dough into triangles; then, using a fork dipped in water, press edges around filling to crimp and seal.
5. Place empanadas on baking sheet and bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes.
Each empanada: 157 cal, 6.5 g fat.
CROCKPOT RECIPE
stephanie o'dea
Apple Coffee Cake-- made in the Slow Cooker
I really like baking in the slow cooker. I get it that this perhaps sounds a bit odd---- why should I bake something in the crockpot for 2 to 3 hours, when I can easily throw a pan in the oven and have coffee cake in only 30 minutes?
I'll tell you why. I'm bonkers.
I don't mean this in the clinical sense (although I'm sure some could argue otherwise), I mean it in the I'm always doing too many things at once and sitting around waiting for 30 minutes for a cake to rise and bake properly just isn't going to happen.
SO! That is why I like baking in my slow cooker. I like the wiggle room. I like it that I can whip up the batter, wash the dishes, and leave the house to run a few errands or pull some weeds in the garden. I like that I know that when I start to smell the baked goods, there's no need to panic---it's not going to burn to a charred brick.
The Ingredients.
serves 8
coffee cake:
cooking spray
2 cups Bisquick mix (NOTE: if not GF, you can use AP flour, but a mix will provide the fluffiest result--I used Pamela's Baking Mix. There is a new GF Bisquick, though, at most grocery stores)
2/3 cup applesauce
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 apples, peeled, cored, diced (green is best, I had Fuji on hand)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
crumb topping:
1/4 Bisquick (or Pamela's, etc. see above notes)
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)
The Directions.
I used a 4-quart slow cooker with the batter directly in the crock (stoneware) insert. If you only have a large 6-quart slow cooker, that's okay---put the dough into a loaf pan and put that into the stoneware insert. No need to add water, just put the pan in the crock.
Spray your pan or 4-quart insert with cooking spray and set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients for your coffee cake. Stir with a rubber spatula--no need to break out the mixer. The batter will be thick and lumpy. Pour into your prepared stoneware insert (or baking pan).
In a small bowl, combine the ingredients for the crumb topping and sprinkle evenly on top of the batter. Cover and cook on high for 2 to 3 hours, or until the cake browns and pulls away from the sides. Uncover the cooker and cook on high for another 30 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
The Verdict.
This is a perfect coffee cake: sweet, but not too sweet, moist and crumbly. I sometimes will make the batter the night before and then scrape it into the crock to bake while I get work done around the house before the rest of the house wakes up. I also love making this during the day as an after school snack. It freezes and reheats (in the microwave) beautifully--perfect for a busy morning.
CRAFT
House your plants in painted tin cans. A little spray paint and a few spring flowers later, you've got yourself the cutest set of planters in town. And if your karma isn't doing too hot, just remember: You're upcycling. The universe will thank you.
CHILDREN'S CORNER .. craft
Bead Suncatchers
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How to Make Melted Bead Suncatchers with Pony Beads ...
Melted bead suncatchers are easy to make from kids plastic pony beads. Follow these tips to make a beautiful and durable suncatcher with plastic beads.
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PUZZLE
Large Tree Nymph Jigsaw Puzzle
Large Tree Nymph Jigsaw Puzzle, 80 Piece Classic. Butterfly on red flower. The Paper Kite, Rice Paper, or Large Tree Nymph
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Preview by Yahoo
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QUOTE
World’s Smallest Park Is No Bigger Than a Flower Pot
By Spooky Mill Ends Park, in Portland, Oregon, currently holds the record for the world’s smallest park. With a diameter of just two meters, it only has room for one tree and a few tiny plants, but it’s one of the city’s most popular landmarks.
Mill Ends was originally supposed to be the site of a light pole, but for some reason, the pole never arrived and weeds began to sprout from the hole. Dick Fagan, a columnist for the Oregon Journal, whose office overlooked the tiny park, noticed the derelict patch of land and decided to do something about it. He started planting foliage there and even came up with a special column in the local paper dedicated to Mill Ends Park. He managed to create a whole story around the place, including leprechauns living there that only he could see, and tiny shamrocks growing inside the other plants.
"Good Morning" in Basque (Spain, France) - Egun on
CLEVER
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EYE OPENER
10 Verbs that are contronyms
by Kimberly Joki
thanks, patty
Have you ever encountered a word and thought that it meant the opposite of what you remembered? If so, you may have come across a contronym.
A contronym, often referred to as a Janus word or autoantonym, is a word that evokes contradictory or reverse meanings depending on the context. Specifically, a contronym is a word with a homonym (another word with the same spelling but different meaning) that is also an antonym (a word with the opposite meaning).
Generally, contronyms became contronyms in one of two ways: (1) different words with different etymologies converged into one word, or (2) one word acquired different and opposite meanings over time.
Here are some contronyms that are commonly used as verbs in the English language:
to buckle
Definition 1: to fasten or secure with a buckle (i.e., a device with a frame, hinged pin, and movable tongue, designed to fasten together two loose ends of a belt or strap).
Example 1: Our hiking instructors told us to buckle our backpacks to our bodies during rigorous climbs.
Example 1: Our hiking instructors told us to buckle our backpacks to our bodies during rigorous climbs.
Definition 2: to bend, warp, or collapse under pressure.
Example 2: I felt my legs buckle as I hiked up the steep mountain with my heavy backpack.
Example 2: I felt my legs buckle as I hiked up the steep mountain with my heavy backpack.
to cleave
Definition 1: to join or adhere closely; cling.
Example 1: The shy baby rabbit cleaved to his mother’s body.
Example 1: The shy baby rabbit cleaved to his mother’s body.
Definition 2: to split or divide, especially by cutting.
Example 2: The hunter uses a Swiss Army knife to cleave the rabbit’s meat from the bone.
Example 2: The hunter uses a Swiss Army knife to cleave the rabbit’s meat from the bone.
to dust
Definition 1: to remove dust.
Example 1: My mother asked me to dust the window shades before the party.
Example 1: My mother asked me to dust the window shades before the party.
Definition 2: to sprinkle with soil or dust.
Example 2: I watched my mother dust my birthday cake in a thin layer of white sugar.
Example 2: I watched my mother dust my birthday cake in a thin layer of white sugar.
to enjoin
Definition 1: to instruct, prescribe, or command.
Example 1: For my sake, our family counselor enjoined my parents to communicate with each other after their divorce.
Example 1: For my sake, our family counselor enjoined my parents to communicate with each other after their divorce.
Definition 2: to prohibit or forbid (especially via an injunction).
Example 2: After my parents’ divorce, the court enjoined my abusive mother from contacting me and my father.
Example 2: After my parents’ divorce, the court enjoined my abusive mother from contacting me and my father.
to overlook
Definition 1: to monitor or inspect.
Example 1: Our teachers overlook our academic progress.
Example 1: Our teachers overlook our academic progress.
Definition 2: to fail to notice or choose not to emphasize.
Example 2: Because they are tired, my teachers often overlook the spelling errors in my homework.
Example 2: Because they are tired, my teachers often overlook the spelling errors in my homework.
to peruse
Definition 1: to skim or read without attention to detail.
Example 1: My mind wanders when I peruse chemistry textbooks because I have no interest in science.
Example 1: My mind wanders when I peruse chemistry textbooks because I have no interest in science.
Definition 2: to read or examine in detail.
Example 2: To study for the final exam, I sit down in a quiet room to peruse my chemistry notes.
Example 2: To study for the final exam, I sit down in a quiet room to peruse my chemistry notes.
to ravel
Definition 1: to tangle.
Example 1: When she is bored, my daughter ravels her hair into huge knots with her hands.
Example 1: When she is bored, my daughter ravels her hair into huge knots with her hands.
Definition 2: to disentangle threads or fibers.
Example 2: My daughter uses tweezers to ravel stubborn knots in her hair.
Example 2: My daughter uses tweezers to ravel stubborn knots in her hair.
to rent
Definition 1: to sell or lease the use of a commodity.
Example 1: The landlord rents her apartment in the city to a young couple.
Example 1: The landlord rents her apartment in the city to a young couple.
Definition 2: to buy the use of a commodity.
Example 2: Depending on how much money you want to send, you can rent a room or an entire apartment from the landlord.
Example 2: Depending on how much money you want to send, you can rent a room or an entire apartment from the landlord.
to sanction
Definition 1: to permit or grant approval.
Example 1: In some countries, the government sanctions the ownership of guns by private citizens.
Example 1: In some countries, the government sanctions the ownership of guns by private citizens.
Definition 2: to condemn or penalize.
Example 2: In some states, the government imposes sanctions on the ownership of guns by private citizens.
Example 2: In some states, the government imposes sanctions on the ownership of guns by private citizens.
to screen
Definition 1: to protect or conceal.
Example 1: Because he did not have a hat or umbrella, he used a newspaper to screen his face from the sun.
Example 1: Because he did not have a hat or umbrella, he used a newspaper to screen his face from the sun.
Definition 2: to show or broadcast (a movie or TV show).
Example 2: The local movie theater will screen the new horror movie tonight.
Example 2: The local movie theater will screen the new horror movie tonight.
The next time you run into a word that confuses you, keep in mind that seemingly simple words can have opposite or multiple implications, and that the meaning of a word depends on both its dictionary definition and the context in which it is used.
I love contronyms--I might even be one?!
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