DIANE'S CORNER ...
Celebrate Mother Ocean Day
Related image

Water is essential to human life. In fact, it is essential to all of the forms of life known to humankind in general, as there are no known species that can survive without it. Though marine biologists are unsure just how many kinds of creatures reside in our planet’s 5 oceans, it is estimated that about one-quarter of all of the Earth’s species do. Not to mention how very important the oceans are to our civilization—for thousands of years, braving their waters has been one of the bravest feats a human being could accomplish, one that often led to amazing discoveries and the general increase of our knowledge of the planet we inhabit. For all of these reasons and many, many more, Mother Ocean Day is a long-overdue celebration of our oceans in all of their majesty and peril.

The History of Mother Ocean Day

Mother Ocean Day is relatively a new celebration, as it was introduced for the first time in 2013. It is a concept thought up by the South Florida Kayak Fishing Club that has since sought the approval of the City of Miami to declare this a day official. The point, of course, is to take a day to celebrate the beauty and wonder of the ocean, and it is no surprise that inhabitants of Florida were the ones to come forward with this idea, as Florida is famous for particularly gorgeous white sand beaches and clear, aquamarine waters.

thanks, Heide

Word of the Day

irradiate

Definition:

(verb) Expose to radiation.

Synonyms:

ray

Usage:

The government regulators insist that we irradiate farm produce so as to destroy bacteria.

Idiom of the Day

not in a month of Sundays

— Not at any point; under absolutely no circumstances.

History

US Supreme Court Classifies Tomatoes as Vegetables, Not Fruit (1893)

To most of us, a fruit is a sweet plant part eaten as a dessert or snack, but to a botanist, a fruit is a mature ovary of a plant. All species of flowering plants produce fruits that contain seeds. A vegetable, on the other hand, is simply part of a plant that is grown primarily for food. The tomato—one of the newer additions to world cuisine—can be said to meet both criteria but is technically a fruit.

Gustav Stresemann (1878)

A German statesman, Stresemann entered the Reichstag in 1907 as a deputy of the National Liberal party. During World War I, he supported the monarchy and an annexationist policy, but after the proclamation of a German republic in 1918, he founded the conservative German People's party and turned to a conciliatory policy. As chancellor and foreign minister of the Weimar Republic from 1923, he worked to reconcile former enemy nations to Germany.

Festa del Grillo

On Ascension Day in Florence, Italy, crowds gather in the Cascine—a public park along the banks of the Arno River—to celebrate the Festa del Grillo, or Cricket Festival, the chirping cricket being a traditional symbol of spring. Food stalls are set up in the park, and there are balloons and other souvenirs for sale. People used to catch their own crickets, but today they buy them in brightly painted cages. The children carry their crickets through the park and later hang the cages outside their windows. If the grillo sings to them, it means they'll have good luck.

Which are smarter, cats or dogs? We asked a scientist

It's a debate we can never seem to settle: Are cats smarter? Or are dogs? Dogs learn and respond to commands; cats usually don't. But cats are cunning hunters with a boundless curiosity. To settle this debate, PBS NewsHour posed the question to three ...

READ MORE: Regardless of how many neurons dogs and cats have, they're still intelligent creatures who love you and deserve your love too. Photo by Roger H. Goun/via Flickr

Regardless of how many neurons dogs and cats have, they're still intelligent creatures who love you and deserve your love too. Photo by Roger H. Goun/via Flickr

Which are smarter, cats or dogs? We asked a scientist

Image result for 1773 - The English Parliament passed the Tea Act, which taxed all tea in the U.S. colonies.

Image result for 1773 - The English Parliament passed the Tea Act, which taxed all tea in the U.S. colonies.

1773 - The English Parliament passed the Tea Act, which taxed all tea in the U.S. colonies.

Image result for 1840 - Mormon leader Joseph Smith moved his band of followers to Illinois to escape the hostilities they had experienced in Missouri.

Image result for 1840 - Mormon leader Joseph Smith moved his band of followers to Illinois to escape the hostilities they had experienced in Missouri.

1840 - Mormon leader Joseph Smith moved his band of followers to Illinois to escape the hostilities they had experienced in Missouri.

Image result for 1872 - Victoria Woodhull became the first woman nominated for the U.S. presidency.

Image result for 1872 - Victoria Woodhull became the first woman nominated for the U.S. presidency.

1872 - Victoria Woodhull became the first woman nominated for the U.S. presidency.

Image result for 1908 - The first Mother's Day observance took place during a church service in Grafton, West Virginia.

Image result for 1908 - The first Mother's Day observance took place during a church service in Grafton, West Virginia.

1908 - The first Mother's Day observance took place during a church service in Grafton, West Virginia.

Image result for 1927 - The Hotel Statler in Boston, MA. became the first hotel to install radio headsets in each of its 1,300 rooms.

Image result for 1927 - The Hotel Statler in Boston, MA. became the first hotel to install radio headsets in each of its 1,300 rooms.

1927 - The Hotel Statler in Boston, MA. became the first hotel to install radio headsets in each of its 1,300 rooms.

Image result for 1930 - The Adler Planetarium opened to the public in Chicago, IL.

Image result for 1930 - The Adler Planetarium opened to the public in Chicago, IL.

1930 - The Adler Planetarium opened to the public in Chicago, IL.

Image result for 1962 - Marvel Comics published the first issue of "The Incredible Hulk."

Image result for 1962 - Marvel Comics published the first issue of "The Incredible Hulk."

1962 - Marvel Comics published the first issue of "The Incredible Hulk."

Image result for 1986 - Navy Lt. Commander Donnie Cochran became the first black pilot to fly with the Blue Angels team.

Image result for 1986 - Navy Lt. Commander Donnie Cochran became the first black pilot to fly with the Blue Angels team.

1986 - Navy Lt. Commander Donnie Cochran became the first black pilot to fly with the Blue Angels team.

Image result for 1999 - The Cezanne painting "Still Life With Curtain, Pitcher and Bowl of Fruit" sold for 60.5 million.

Image result for 1999 - The Cezanne painting "Still Life With Curtain, Pitcher and Bowl of Fruit" sold for 60.5 million.

1999 - The Cezanne painting "Still Life With Curtain, Pitcher and Bowl of Fruit" sold for 60.5 million.

Image result for 2002 - Dr. Pepper announced that it would be introducing a new flavor, Red Fusion, for the first time in 117 years.

Image result for 2002 - Dr. Pepper announced that it would be introducing a new flavor, Red Fusion, for the first time in 117 years.

2002 - Dr. Pepper announced that it would be introducing a new flavor, Red Fusion, for the first time in 117 years.

Image result for 2013 - In New York, NY, crane operators hoisted the final pieces of the spire atop One World Trade Center (formerly called the Freedom Tower).

Image result for 2013 - In New York, NY, crane operators hoisted the final pieces of the spire atop One World Trade Center (formerly called the Freedom Tower).

2013 - In New York, NY, crane operators hoisted the final pieces of the spire atop One World Trade Center (formerly called the Freedom Tower).

Image result for 2002 - In London, a 17th century book by Capt. John Smith, founder of the English settlement at Jamestown, was sold at auction for $48,800. "The General History of Virginia, New England and the Summer Isles" was published in 1632.

DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, May 10

You are a giver, yet a go-getter–ambitious, but always considerate of others. You instinctively understand that change is necessary for growth, even though you do hold on to traditions, habits, and people. Romantic at heart, you love deeply and often permanently. You are strong at networking and promotion. Highly intelligent, you constantly feed your mind with new information. Famous people born today:

1838 John Wilkes Booth, American stage actor and assassin of US President Abraham Lincoln, born in Bel Air, Maryland (d. 1865)

Actor and Dancer Fred Astaire

1899 Fred Astaire, American tap dancer, presenter and actor (Easter Parade, Swingtime), born in Omaha, Nebraska (d. 1987)

Country Singer Maybelle Carter

1909 Maybelle Carter, American country singer(Johnny Cash Show), born in Nickelsville, Virginia (d. 1978)

CBS, Fox, and ESPN Sportscaster Pat Summerall

CBS, Fox, and ESPN Sportscaster Pat Summerall

1930 Pat Summerall, American NFL player (NY Giants) and CBS sportscaster, born in Lake City, Florida (d. 2013)

Musician Sid Vicious

1957 Sid Vicious [John Simon Ritchie], English musician and bassist (Sex Pistols), born in London (d. 1979)

READERS INFO
1.

Renaissance Festival of Nebraska 2018

May 12-13, 2018 | Papillion, NE

Scarborough Renaissance Festival Fairgrounds|2511 FM 66, Omaha Renaissance Faire Tickets

You don’t need an interdimensional wormhole or flux capacitor to travel back to the days of yore. The annual Scarborough Renaissance Festival in Waxahachie transforms modern-day Texas into a whimsical village from a bygone era. Set during select weekends in the spring, the festival features over 200 folkloric performances on 21 stages, jousting tournaments, court dancing, magicians, wedding gardens, a petting zoo, human chess matches, mazes, knighting ceremonies and demonstrations of sword making and glass blowing.

further information: The Renaissance Festival of Nebraska

Oklahoma Renaissance Festival 2018

May 12-13, 2018 | Muskogee, OK

The Castle of Muskogee|3400 W Fern Mountain Rd
Image result for Oklahoma Renaissance Festival 2018 May 12-13, 2018 | Muskogee, OK

Forget what you know about modern life in Oklahoma; you’re going back in time, friend. You’ll stumble into Renaissance England where royalty, armor-clad knights, magicians and other fascinating characters come to life. From action-packed jousting tournaments to handcrafted goods in the World Trade Market, everything is not quite how you left it. You don’t have to fake a British accent, but do what you can to stay engaged in unfamiliar territory.

further information: 2018 Oklahoma Renaissance Festival | Muskogee Chamber of Commerce

Pictures of the day

The Virgin River Narrows in Zion National Park, located near Springdale, Utah, is a 16-mile long slot canyon along the Virgin River. Recently rated as number five out of National Geographic's Top 100 American Adventures, it is one of the most rewarding hikes in the world.

Giraffes relaxing near Ngorongoro Crater

ng tpoty nature week3 013 Early Highlights from the 2018 Nat Geo Travel Photographer of the Year Contest

Upon leaving Ngorongoro Crater headed towards the Serengeti, we came across a hillside full of giraffes. After a little coaxing by me, our driver guide, “James Bond” took us off-road and drove us right to them. I had always heard that giraffe don’t sit, so this photo debunks that myth.

thanks for the Irish humor, Helen