Magic Day started with a “Houdini Day,” the first of which took place in the summer of 1927, less than one year after the famous magician’s death. His wife presented a trophy in honor of him on that day.
Harry Houdini is quite probably one of the reasons magic is so popular today and at the time of his death he was the most famous member of the Society of American Magicians. Houdini died at 1:26pm on October 31st, 1926.
Houdini is most famous for his escape artistry, varying from escaping from chains, ropes, handcuffs and straitjackets while dangling in the air above his audience, to escaping from a locked milk can, filled with water. He went so far as to challenge police in every city he visited to restrain him in their jails and handcuffs – more often than not he was strip-searched first.
Word of the Day
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| Definition: | (adjective) Characterized by or resulting from despair; hopeless. | ||
| Synonyms: | desperate | ||
| Usage: | The set-back to their hopes made them despairing and desperate. | ||
Idiom of the Day
bragging rights— The authority and freedom to boast or brag of one's achievements that comes from having won a contest or succeeded in some way, especially against a close rival. |
History
Leiden University Library Opens in the Netherlands (1587)
The city of Leiden played a prominent role in the revolt that would create an independent Dutch nation. In 1575—a year after Leiden had survived a siege by the Spanish—Prince William the Silent founded a university in the city. Today, Leiden University is the oldest in the Netherlands. Its library, once housed in a single room, is now home to a monumental collection of books, manuscripts, maps, and letters—some of which are centuries old and very rare.
John Evelyn (1620)
| From 1631 until his death in 1706, Evelyn kept a diary that is today an invaluable source of information on 17th-century British social, cultural, and political life. He corresponded frequently with Samuel Pepys, another now-famous diarist of the time. Living as a wealthy country gentleman in Deptford, he wrote about 30 books on various subjects including reforestation, vegetarianism, and numismatics. |
Apple and Candle Night |
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| This is another name for Halloween among children in the Swansea area of Wales. The traditional game of "Apple and Candle" is played by suspending a stick from the ceiling with an apple fastened to one end and a lit candle to the other. The object is to eat the apple without using hands and without getting burned by the swinging candle. To make the game more challenging, players are sometimes blindfolded and the stick is twirled around before the game begins. |
NASA "Twins Study" Shows How Spaceflight Changes Gene Expression
| The changes spaceflight induces in astronauts are much more than skin deep. Space travel strongly affects the way genes are expressed, or turned on and off, preliminary results from NASA's "Twins Study" have revealed |
NASA "Twins Study" Shows How Spaceflight Changes Gene Expression
1517 - Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Palace Church. The event marked the start of the Protestant Reformation in Germany.
1860 - Juliette Low, the founder off the Girl Scouts, was born.
1864 - Nevada became the 36th state to join the U.S.
1926 - Magician Harry Houdini died of gangrene and peritonitis resulting from a ruptured appendix. His appendix had been damaged twelve days earlier when he had been punched in the stomach by a student unexpectedly. During a lecture Houdini had commented on the strength of his stomach muscles and their ability to withstand hard blows.
1941 - Mount Rushmore was declared complete after 14 years of work. At the time the 60-foot busts of U.S. Presidents
1956 - Rear Admiral G.J. Dufek became the first person to land an airplane at the South Pole. Dufek also became the first person to set foot on the South Pole.
1969 - Wal-Mart Discount City stores were incorporated as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc
. 
1985 - Producer Joseph Papp died of cancer at the age of 70. He was the co-creator of "A Chorus Line."
2008 - Distribution Video Audio, Inc. shipped its final shipment of VHS tapes to stores. The company was the last major United States supplier of pre-recorded VHS tapes.
DAILY SQU-EEK
If You Were Born Today, October 31
You are a dependable person who can also be spontaneous and unique while steady and reliable overall. Some people might call you hard-headed! You can stick to something (or someone) longer than most people, and your ability to read between the lines is outstanding. People generally admire your conviction and your wit, and you inspire trust in others due to your “no-nonsense” approach to life. Family oriented and committed, you are also typically quite organized. Famous people born today: Jane Pauley, Deidre Hall, Dan Rather, Xavier Roberts, John Candy, Michael Landon, Rob Schneider, Chris Tucker, Piper Perabo, Willow Smith.
1. 1963:
Ed Sullivan happened upon a European phenomenon while traveling through Heathrow Airport. Sullivan witnessed the fervor of Beatlemania firsthand, catching a glimpse of the British rock band, The Beatles, struggling through the terminal with a flood of fans blocking the way. This chance encounter would pave the way for the British Invasion in the United States -- a continuation of the craze already sweeping across the European continent.
The Beatles were unheard of in the United States at the time, but not for lack of trying. Their manager, Brian Epstein, had tried unsuccessfully to persuade his counterparts at Capitol Records, the American faction of British record label EMI, to give the British pop group airplay. Unconvinced that their sound would translate across the pond, Capitol declined to release Please Please Me, She Loves You and From Me to You. The singles were snatched up by lesser labels, given little to no promotion, and were left to languish on the pop music charts, ostensibly confirming Capitol's suspicions that The Beatles' style was incompatible with American tastes. In yet another effort to tap into the music industry powerhouse of the American mainstream, The Beatles wrote a song especially for release in the States: I Want to Hold Your Hand. Two weeks after writing this song, The Beatles were passing through Heathrow on the same day as American television impresario Ed Sullivan, who turned out to be their key to getting noticed on American soil.
The pandemonium Sullivan witnessed in the airport inspired him to learn more about the British foursome, and when Epstein traveled to New York to negotiate a contract with Sullivan, the band's manager pulled out all the stops. He guaranteed that The Beatles would book three headlining performances on The Ed Sullivan Show, as well as striking an agreement with Capitol Records to release I Want to Hold Your Hand as a single, backed by a $40,000 promotional campaign. As a result, when The Beatles first appeared in the United States in February 1964, they already had a No. 1 hit record and a rapidly growing fan base.
2. Halloween History
Halloween, also called All Hallow's Eve, occurs on the eve of the Western Christian celebration of All Hallow's or All Saints Day - a day set aside to honor all the Saints of Christendom. Halloween is also a popular celebration with ties to the Celtic festival of Samhain, a celebration of the end of the harvest. The name Halloween comes from the longer name 'All Hallow's Eve'. In the US, this is a popular holiday for young and old and involves dressing up in costumes, harvest parties, and 'trick or treating'. It is celebrated every year on the 31st of October.
Halloween Facts
- Dressing up in costumes dates back to the Middle Ages when poor folks would dress up and go door-to-door on Hallowmas (November 1st), receiving food in exchange for prayers for the dead on All Souls Day (November 2).
- In early Celtic celebrations, turnips or other root vegetables were used in place of pumpkins. A burning lump of coal was placed inside the hollowed out vegetable and carried during the festivities.
- According to the National Retail Federation, more than 70% of Americans actively celebrate Halloween.
- According to the National Retail Federation, Halloween sales for costumes, decorations and candy was over $8 billion in 2012.
- The Guinness Book of World Record holder for the heaviest pumpkin was attained in October 2011 with a pumpkin weighing in at 1,818 lbs. 5 oz.
An illustration by Gustave Doré for Edgar Allan Poe's narrative poem "The Raven", accompanying the poem's final lines "And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor/Shall be lifted—nevermore!"
The More the Merrier
First published in January 1845, "The Raven" tells of a man who, pining for his lost love Lenore, falls into madness as he is barraged by a talking raven's repeated calls of "Nevermore!" This poem, which has often been noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere, makes numerous references to folklore, mythology, religion, and classical antiquity. It has been widely reprinted, parodied, and illustrated.
When temperatures drop, macaques often huddle together to pool their body heat, forming what’s known as a saru dango, or “monkey dumpling.” This behavior is common among the 23 species of macaques, all of which form complex matriarchal societies. It is especially important for Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), which live in colder climates than any other primate aside from humans. On frigid days, their need for warmth clearly outweighs their desire for personal space.
thanks, Nancy
knit
thanks, Leah
Cat Cushion
knit
knit
knit, Christmas
Rose Overalls
Skill level: Easy
Size: Approximately 2” across x 4” high (including straps)
Materials
1 Hank Berroco Lumina (25 grs), #1655 De Wallen (A)
1 Ball Berroco Comfort Sock (100 grs), #1816 Cosmopolitan (B)
Straight knitting needles, sizes 4 (3.50 mm) and 6 (4.00 mm) OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE
1 St holder
Gauge
26 sts = 4”; 22 rows = 4” in k1, p1 ribbing on larger needles
TO SAVE TIME, TAKE TIME TO CHECK GAUGE
Left Leg
With larger straight needles, using A, cast on 15 sts. Knit 3 rows, dec 1 st each end of last row – 13 sts. Join B and work with both yarns held tog as follows:
Ribbing: Row 1 (RS): K1, * p1, k1, rep from * across.
Row 2: P1, * k1, p1, rep from * across. Rep these 2 rows 3 times more, end on WS. Sl sts onto holder.
Right Leg
Work same as left leg until 6 rows of ribbing have been completed, end on WS – 13 sts.
Joining Row (RS): Work across 11 sts of right leg, p2 tog, then work 13 sts of left leg from holder – 25 sts. Work even in ribbing as established until piece measures 2” from beg, end on WS.
Dec Row (RS): Knit, dec 9 sts across – 16 sts. Beg with a p row, work even in St st until piece measures 2½” from beg, end on WS. Fasten off B. With A, k the next row, inc 3 sts across – 19 sts. Knit 2 rows. Bind off knitwise on WS.
Finishing
Sew back seam to crotch. Sew inside leg seams.
Straps (Make 2): With smaller straight needles, using A, cast on 3 sts. Work even in St st for 4½”, end on WS. Bind off. Fold A waistband at top of pants down to RS and sew straps to front and back as shown in photo. Fold A edge at lower edge of each leg up to RS.
thanks, Ann
crochet
thanks, Adele
Scandinavian Snowflake Crochet Afghan
crochet
crochet
thanks, Helen
SWEETS
thanks, Kathy
CHILDREN'S CORNER ... Tangerine Pumpkins Recipe
thanks, Winnie
Harness Buckle Three Jigsaw Puzzle
| angel apples bags chocolate clap costumes crypt | door eerie fairy fright ghosts goodies | howl loot makeup masks monsters moonless night | ogre parents princess sees spooky suit superhero | take teens tier treat trick vampire werewolf wigs |
solution:
QUOTE
These DIY turmeric gummies are especially wonderful for helping your body fight cold, flu and even inflammation.
Turmeric Gummies (Fights Cold, Flu and Inflammation)
thanks, Patty
