Talk Like a Pirate Day September 19, 2017

DIANE'S CORNER ... Celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day

“Yo, Ho, Yo, Ho,
It’s “Talk Like A Pirate” Day!
When laptops are benches God gave us for wenches,
And a sail ain’t a low price to pay!” 
– Talk Like A Pirate Day – Tom Smith

Yar harrr! Ahoy there ye lily livered blaggards! It be Talk Like A Pirate Day, and that means it’s time for pillaging and imbibing of rum! Pirates have been all the rage in recent years, and out of that rage came an insane and completely piratical idea. There should be a day dedicated to keeping the piratical language alive, and more importantly the piratical tradition.

It was June 6, 1995, and there was a group of men playing racquetball, and throughout they were shouting encouragement to each other. On this particular day, for reasons unbeknownst to them, they started shouting piratical slang at each other. From there it just kind of took on a life of its own, and they realized by the end of the game that it was necessary that they establish a holiday to celebrate that encouraged the use of such a fine vernacular. The first thing they needed was a date, and it just so happened to be the date selected was that of his ex-wife.

For the next seven years they honored this holiday, in relative obscurity, until they happened upon the email address of one Dave Barry, a syndicated columnist and author of a great number of books. He also happened to be hilarious, like any good pirate should be. From there it’s all history, Dave Barry promoted the holiday, and it’s been one amazing year after another as people all over the country celebrate this auspicious holiday.

Well mate, celebrating talk like a pirate day be as easy as a day in the tropic, you simply need to turn up your piratical vernacular, pour a few fruity drinks with umbrellas in them, and gather with friends to celebrate the day in your piratey best! There are songs to be song and wenches to be clenched, and who can resist a backyard barbecue with grilled pineapple, salmon made by wokkin’ the plank, and a perhaps inappropriately large amount of pure sugar cane rum? Talk Like A Pirate Day is comin’, are you ready to pirate it up? We know that we’re going to!

The 2017 World Beard and Mustache Championships

Word of the Day

feeder
Definition:	(noun) A branch that flows into the main stream.
Synonyms:	confluent, tributary, affluent
Usage:	This stream in which he stood was a feeder to the Coppermine River, which in turn flowed north and emptied into Coronation Gulf and the Arctic Ocean.

Idiom of the Day

be left in the lurch  — To be left or abandoned without assistance in a particularly awkward, difficult, or troublesome situation. (Sometimes written as "left in a lurch.")

History

Ötzi the Iceman Is Discovered by German Tourists (1991)

In 1991, two hikers discovered a well-preserved corpse trapped in ice near the border between Austria and Italy. It proved to be that of a man who lived about 5,300 years ago—making it the oldest natural mummy ever found. He was nicknamed Ötzi, for the Ötztal Alps where he was found. Also recovered were clothes, shoes, tools, weapons, fire-starting materials, and medicine. Scientists have since determined that Ötzi ate about eight hours before his death.

Lajos Kossuth (1802)

Now considered a national hero, Kossuth was a Hungarian revolutionary who favored dissolving the union between the Hungarian and Austrian crowns. The fiery orator was a principal figure of the 1848 Hungarian Revolution. Appointed provisional governor, he soon became virtual dictator. In 1849, Russian armies intervened in favor of Austria, forcing him to resign. He fled to Turkey and later to Italy, where he watched as Hungary reconciled with the Austrian monarchy.

t's Like An 'Electric-Fence Sensation,' Says Scientist Who Let An Eel Shock His Arm

Electric eels sometimes leap out of the water to increase the power of their jolt — and one scientist has been trying to understand this behavior more fully by letting a small eel repeatedly shock his arm. 
READ MORE:

It's Like An 'Electric-Fence Sensation,' Says Scientist Who Let An Eel Shock His Arm


1876 - Melville R. Bissell patented the carpet sweeper. 


1893 - In New Zealand, the Electoral Act 1893 was consented to giving all women in New Zealand the right to vote. 


1942 - The first advertisement to announce Little Golden Books appeared in Publishers Weekly. 


1958 - Elvis Presley left a Brooklyn naval base to sail to Germany to be with his army unit. 


1970 - "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" premiered on CBS-TV. 


1982 - Scott Fahlman became the first person to use :-) in an online message. 


1987 - The Farm Aid concert took place at the University of Nebraska. 


2003 - It was reported that AOL Time Warner was going to drop "AOL" from its name and be known as Time Warner Inc. The company had announced its merger and name change on January 10, 2000. 

DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, September 19

You are insatiably curious, somewhat restless, and a very hard worker. While you are certainly sociable and interested in what makes people tick, you are also a self-starter. Secretly you may feel the job is better done when you do it! Still, you are not egotistical–you simply have come to rely on yourself and few people work as hard and efficiently as you do. Your wit is sharp and your talents are many. You seem to know a little about everything, and your assessment of any given situation is quick and usually accurate. Your ideas are not only interesting, they’re usually marketable! Famous people born today: William Golding, Frances Farmer, Trisha Yearwood, Cass Elliot, Adam West, Jeremy Irons, Twiggy, Jimmy Fallon, Kevin Zegers, Tegan Quinn, Sara Quinn.

READERS INFO
1.

Brighton Digital Festival 2017

Sep 14 - Oct 13, 2017 | Brighton, United Kingdom

The Brighton Digital Festival is a community-driven celebration of digital arts and culture. Each year, the festival hosts a diverse array of exhibits, events and conferences that are developed by grassroots organizers, and over 41,000 people come to partake in the festivities. Whether your digital interests have you exploring a 3D, computer-generated landscape or participating in exhilarating hackathons, the Brighton Digital Festival has something to pique your digital fancy.

further information: Home | Brighton Digital Festival

2.

American Rebel Bike Week 2017

Sep 14-24, 2017 | Waynesboro, TN 

American Rebel Off Road Park|3301 Natural Bridge Rd 

American Rebel Bike Week is a unique festival that takes place at American Rebel Off Road Park. Ten days of motorcycle nirvana!! Nestled in the hill country of central Tennessee, American Rebel is an outstanding park for camping and biker entertainment.

further information: Welcome to American Rebel Bike Week

3.

Art on the Atlanta BeltLine 2017

Sep 9 - Oct 7, 2017 | Atlanta, GA 

Art on the Atlanta BeltLine in Atlanta, Georgia, is a do-it-yourself and professional celebration of the illuminated artistry of lanterns. The one-day event features a parade of hand-held lanterns with hundreds of participants including marching bands. Additional attractions include live music and dance performances from high-energy local acts and troupes.


further information: Welcome | Art on the Atlanta BeltLine Home

Pictures of the day


A color-composite image of the Carina Nebula, revealing details in the stars and dust of the region. Several astronomical objects can be seen in this wide field image, including the binary star Eta Carinae to the bottom left, adjacent to the Keyhole Nebula. Two open star clusters, Trumpler 14 and Collinder 228, can be found above and below Eta Carinae, respectively.

DANCING SUNSET

The northern lights combine with a sunset to make a beautiful landscape photograph. The Lofoten Islands of Norway, where this shot was taken, are a picturesque place to see the lights from September to April.

knit, must translate the pattern and it's great history!
thanks, Patty
https://www.taitoep.net/muut/junasukka-ohje
and ravelry link:

Vauvan sukka pattern by Kerttu Latvala

knit

thanks, Sally

Tea Party Top

knit

Knit Grass Rug

knit

Ribbed Lace Top

knit

crochet

thanks, Helen

Granny Tassel Shawl

crochet

thanks, Doris

Fluffy Pink Shrug Schematics pattern by Lauri Bolland

crochet

Granny Crochet Dishcloth

crochet, 3 - 6 mths

Baby Knee High Booties

crochet

Face Scrubbie with Handle pattern by Ashley Carr

RECIPE

Challah Egg Bread

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ½ packages active dry yeast (1 1/2 tablespoons)
• 1 tablespoon plus 1/2 cup sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil, more for greasing bowl
• 5 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 8 to 8 ½ cups all-purpose flour
•  Poppy or sesame seeds for sprinkling

PREPARATION

1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in 1 3/4 cups lukewarm water.
2. Whisk oil into yeast, then beat in 4 eggs, one at a time, with remaining sugar and salt. Gradually add flour. When dough holds together, it is ready for kneading. (You can also use a mixer with a dough hook for both mixing and kneading.)
3. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Clean out bowl and grease it, then return dough to bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until almost doubled in size. Dough may also rise in an oven that has been warmed to 150 degrees then turned off. Punch down dough, cover and let rise again in a warm place for another half-hour.
4. To make a 6-braid challah, either straight or circular, take half the dough and form it into 6 balls. With your hands, roll each ball into a strand about 12 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Place the 6 in a row, parallel to one another. Pinch the tops of the strands together. Move the outside right strand over 2 strands. Then take the second strand from the left and move it to the far right. Take the outside left strand and move it over 2. Move second strand from the right over to the far left. Start over with the outside right strand. Continue this until all strands are braided. For a straight loaf, tuck ends underneath. For a circular loaf, twist into a circle, pinching ends together. Make a second loaf the same way. Place braided loaves on a greased cookie sheet with at least 2 inches in between.
5. Beat remaining egg and brush it on loaves. Either freeze breads or let rise another hour.
6. If baking immediately, preheat oven to 375 degrees and brush loaves again. If freezing, remove from freezer 5 hours before baking. Then dip your index finger in the egg wash, then into poppy or sesame seeds and then onto a mound of bread. Continue until bread is decorated with seeds.
7. Bake in middle of oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden. Cool loaves on a rack.
8. 

CROCKPOT RECIPE

thanks, Shelley

Pressure Cooker Black Bean Soup Recipe

SWEETS

Chocolate Brown Sugar Babka the-nosher

Ingredients

For the dough:

1 packet active dry yeast

2/3 cup whole milk or half-and-half, warmed (but not hot)

7 Tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature

3 Tbsp brown sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

4 egg yolks (reserve 1 egg white for egg wash)

3 1/4 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp salt

For the filling:

2 cups finely chopped, good quality dark chocolate

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/3 cup unsalted butter, diced, chilled

For the streusel topping:

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup all purpose flour

2 Tbsp unsalted butter, diced, chilled pieces

flaky sea salt (like Maldon)

Directions

Gently whisk the yeast into the warmed milk or half-and-half and let sit for 5-10 minutes, until foamy on top (this means the yeast has activated).

Meanwhile, cream the butter and brown sugar. Beat in the vanilla and egg yolks until completely incorporated.

Give the yeast-milk mixture a stir, then stir it into the yolk-butter-sugar mixture. Stir in the flour and salt. Continue mixing until a soft dough forms.

Remove the dough from the bowl and knead it on a floured board a few times.

Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap, and let the dough rise for 1 hour (alternately, you may let the dough rise slowly in the refrigerator overnight, just make sure to let it come to room temperature before going on to the next step).

While the dough is rising, make the chocolate filling by using your hands to mush together the chocolate, cinnamon, and butter (this may also be done by pulsing the ingredients in a food processor). It should have a chunky texture. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Make the streusel by combining the brown sugar, flour, and butter in a bowl and using your hands to mush together until combined (this may also be done by pulsing the ingredients in a food processor). It should be very crumbly. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Roll the risen dough out on a floured surface into a 14-inch x 18-inch rectangle.

Sprinkle the prepared chocolate filling all over the surface of the dough, all the way out to the edges.

Starting at the long side, roll the rectangle up tightly so you have an 18-inch tube. Roll the log back and forth several times, gently spreading it out until the length of the log is about 20 inches.

Twist the dough into a figure-eight and pinch the ends together, tucking them under the twist.

Line a 9×5 loaf pan with parchment paper (or spray well with non-stick cooking spray).

Nestle the twisted dough into the loaf pan. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour, or until the dough twist fills the loaf pan completely.

While the dough rises, whisk together the reserved egg white with 2 tablespoons milk, half-and-half, or water. Set aside.

Once the dough has risen, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Use a fork or the pointy end of a skewer to poke holes all over the top of the dough (this ensures no air bubbles form during baking).

Brush the top of the dough with the egg wash, and gently press the prepared streusel all over (some of it will fall off—this is OK). Sprinkle a few light pinches of the flaky sea salt over the top of the streusel.

Bake the loaf for 25 minutes.

Turn the loaf 180 degrees, and bake for another 25 minutes. The babka should be golden brown, and should sound hollow when tapped.

Let the babka cool in its pan for at least 10 minutes, then carefully slide it out, slice with a serrated knife, and serve (the babka may also be served at room temperature).

ADULT COLORING







CHILDREN'S CORNER ... quiz

What Type of Genius Are You?



PUZZLE

Port Cape Clear Jigsaw Puzzle



WORD SEARCH

ages been behind brought cocoa crystal dote dough dredge drift

elegant emanate entertain field fleet floor frank gaudy glide gore

intercede leader nest order outstanding paste player prod

reef rest score secret send short sleep spout story

talent tear tense today wield wreath yeast

SUDOKU ... easy




solution:







QUOTE

CLEVER

thanks, Alice
The longest straight line you can (theoretically) walk across without hitting the ocean

P.S. The Earth is not flat!

EYE OPENER
thanks, Patty
Historic Pregnancies Everyone Was Watching

mentalfloss

When you consider that it only took about seven decades to go from public pregnancy talk being taboo to Beyonce’s epic “We’re expecting twins” photoshoot, it’s clear society’s collective obsession with baby bumps has come a long way in a pretty short time. Up until the 1950s, openly acknowledging that a woman was with child (and therefore openly acknowledging her sexuality) was thought to be inappropriate.

Of course, that hasn't stopped nosy citizens and subjects from paying attention to particularly noteworthy pregnancies throughout history. These eight royals, cultural trailblazers, and newsmakers had all eyes on them—and their growing bellies—long before today’s tabloids made celebrity baby watching an art.

1. JANE SEYMOUR // 1537

Henry VIII’s first two wives—Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn—had only successfully given birth to daughters before their husband divorced and executed them, respectively. So, when the King of England married Jane Seymour in 1536 (only days after wife #2’s death), the pressure was on her and her uterus to give her new husband the male heir he so desperately wanted. Seymour conceived seven months later. Despite a seriously poor record of treating his previous wives, Henry was devoted to Seymour during her pregnancy. According to some accounts, when Seymour craved out-of-season quail, Henry had them shipped from Calais, France. Astrologers at the time predicted the bun in the royal oven was a boy. They were right. In October 1537, Seymour delivered Edward VI after days of brutal labor. Henry was thrilled, but the birth had been too much for Seymour. She died of complications soon afterward.

2. LESLEY BROWN // 1978

Lesley Brown and her husband, John, had been trying to get pregnant for nine years before they became the first to ever successfully conceive and carry a baby to term via artificial insemination (and they did it on the first try). The English couple welcomed daughter Louise on July 25, 1978, but they were regulars in the headlines in the nine months leading up to the historic delivery, too. The attention was a bit much for the Browns, a quiet homemaker and railroad employee, to take. People were fascinated—and in some cases, outraged—by the medical breakthrough. "Test tube babies" were thought to be both a promising development for thousands of childless couples and a risky step toward playing God. The Browns’ fame only got bigger after Louise was born. They even had to move to a house with a backyard so Lesley could take her baby outside without reporters tailing them.

3. IFRA HORMIZD // 309 C.E.

Shapur II’s rise to rule the Sasanian Empire—which covered much of the Middle East and parts of central Asia—started before he was even born. First Shapur’s father, Hormizd II, died in 309 C.E., then three older brothers were killed, blinded, or captured by nobles, leaving Hormizd’s unborn child next in line for the throne. Some say Shapur was crowned in utero, with his mother, Ifra, even wearing the crown on her womb. Not all historians buy this legend, though, as they wouldn’t have known the baby was a boy.

4. MARIE ANTOINETTE // 1777

The French queen of “Let them eat cake” fame didn’t exactly have a peaceful road to motherhood. It reportedly took seven years for the young royal and her young husband, Louis XVI, to consummate their marriage, and the fact that they hadn’t produced an heir in that time was a problem for the monarchy. When Marie finally did get pregnant, not only was she expected to deliver a boy, she was also subject to the royal tradition of giving birth in front of a curious crowd of courtiers to ensure no baby swapping or other funny business was happening. In the words of Marie’s first chambermaid Madame Campan, when the time came for the birth, “it was impossible to move about the chamber, which was filled with so motley a crowd that any one might have fancied himself in some place of public amusement. Two Savoyards [people from Savoy] climbed upon the furniture for a better sight of the Queen.” Talk about awkward.

5. LUCILLE BALL // 1952

Due to the aforementioned scandalousness of addressing a pregnancy publicly, it was big news when Lucille Ball and her on-and-off-screen husband Desi Arnaz wanted to write her second real-life pregnancy into the storyline of their sitcom, I Love Lucy. CBS network execs weren’t wild about the idea of including a pregnancy in a show in which the married leads could only be shown in twin beds, but gave the couple the okay provided they didn’t actually use the word “pregnant”—it was considered vulgar at the time. Instead, the episode “Lucy is Enceinte” (“Lucy is Pregnant” in French) used quaint '50s euphemisms for Ball’s condition, like “blessed event.” Audiences loved it and the subsequent episodes following Ball and her character’s pregnancy, and Ball and Arnaz greeted Desi Arnaz Jr. in real life the same day the episode “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” aired with 44 million people watching.

6. QUEEN VICTORIA // 1853

The British Empire’s Queen Victoria was no stranger to her pregnancies drawing the public eye. She was attacked in an assassination attempt while riding in a horse-drawn carriage with her husband Albert in 1840, four months into carrying her first child. Later, she became the first monarch to give birth under the influence of chloroform (she used the stuff with her eighth and ninth babies)—a distinction that helped popularize pain-reducing anesthesia for upper-class women during childbirth.

7. ANNE MORROW // 1930

Famous American aviator Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne Morrow’s little bundle of joy was so eagerly anticipated, reporters camped out at the Morrow estate ahead of his arrival and radio stations played songs celebrating the event. As The New York Times described in a 1932 article about Charles Jr., “Perhaps nowhere in the world, at any time in history, had a child been the object of such wide public interest as was the Lindbergh child.” Sadly, the buzz around the baby ultimately turned deadly. When Charles Jr. was 20 months old, he vanished from his second-story crib in a kidnapping that captivated the nation for years. The Lindberghs paid $70,000 in ransom to have their toddler returned to them, but the boy’s remains were found a few months later. The man eventually convicted of “the crime of the century” was arrested in 1934.

8. FRANCES FOLSOM CLEVELAND // 1893

There was a bit of a scandal when bachelor president Grover Cleveland proposed to Frances Folsom in 1885—most people had assumed the president would be proposing to Folsom’s widow mother instead. So the 21-year-old First Lady understandably became an instant celebrity and fashion icon when she married. (She was so sought-after at public events, the president was concerned for her safety.) As the first and only First Lady to give birth in the White House, “Frankie”s pregnancies were just as attention-grabbing. Esther Cleveland, the only baby of a president ever born in the White House, arrived in 1893.