Punctuation Day - September 24, 2018

DIANE'S CORNER ... 

Celebrate Punctuation Day

Let’s face it, punctuation saves lives. It may sound a little strange to say that, but when you think of the effect that just the humble comma can have on the meaning of a sentence, it becomes readily apparent that there are some really strong arguments for learning to use them properly.

For instance, you really don’t want to say “Let’s eat Grandma!” when you mean “Let’s eat, Grandma!” The first means you’re suggesting you eat your sweet old granny, the second invites her to come dine with you, see the difference? Punctuation Day shares this wisdom with the world, as well as the wisdom of all the other forms of punctuation.

History of Punctuation Day

Punctuation Day was established by Jeff Rubin, founder of the day and organizer of www.nationalpunctuationday.com. Punctuation can be tricky for some people, those who struggle to know when it’s appropriate to use a colon, or a set of brackets, or even an ellipsis. You thought we were going to talk about the period, the comma, and the semi-colon?

Of course we are, but these are commonly known-about forms of punctuation, and not everyone knows that the world of grammatical structure spreads beyond these commonly used (though commonly misunderstood) forms.

Punctuation Day was established to help reinforce these lessons we learned in elementary school, and to reinforce their use and to show just how important they can be to ensure that what you write is properly interpreted as what you mean. That doesn’t mean that the world of punctuation is all peaceful and orderly though!

Sometimes you run into rogue sectors that argue whether or not things like the Oxford Comma are valid. Believe us, it is; anyone who says otherwise is a heathen.

Word of the Day

dilatory
Definition:	(adjective) Tending or inclined to delay or waste time.
Synonyms:	laggard, poky
Usage:	Frank, dilatory in all his proceedings, was the last of the dramatic company who left the precincts of the stage.

Idiom of the Day

rolling in dough  — Exceptionally wealthy; having large amounts of money to spend.

This Day in History

Gertrude of Merania Killed by Discontented Hungarian Nobles (1213)

The first wife of Andrew II of Hungary, Gertrude played an active role in the political machinations of his early reign. She used her influence to advance her German relatives at court and gifted Hungarian lands to them, angering the Hungarian nobility and inciting them to action. While her husband was off on a military campaign, Gertrude was murdered by a group of discontented nobles.

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (1825)

Born free in Baltimore, Maryland—where slavery was still in place—Harper was raised by an abolitionist uncle and published her first volume of poetry when she 20 years old. In 1854, she gave her first anti-slavery lecture. Her second volume, Poems on Miscellaneous Subjects, made her the best known African-American poet of the era. Her short story, "The Two Offers," was probably the first such published work by any African American. 

Tzom Gedaliahu (Fast of Gedaliah)

Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple and carried away most of the Jews into slavery in 586 BCE. He left behind a few farmers and families under the supervision of a Jewish governor named Gedaliah ben Ahikam to administer affairs in the devastated land. A few traitors, who accused Gedaliah of collaborating with the enemy, murdered him and the small garrison of soldiers Nebuchadnezzar had stationed there. Many of the farmers fled to Egypt; the rest were either killed or taken to Babylon, bringing about Judah's final collapse.

Why do we love bees but hate wasps?

A lack of understanding of the important role of wasps in the ecosystem and economy is a fundamental reason why they are universally despised whereas bees are much loved, according to UCL-led research. Both bees and wasps are two of humanity's most ...

READ MORE:

Why do we love bees but hate wasps?


1915 - "The Lamb," Douglas Fairbanks first film, was shown at the Knickerbocker Theater in New York City, NY. 


1934 - Babe Ruth played his last game as a New York Yankee player. 


1938 - Don Budge became the first tennis player to win all four of the major titles when he won the U.S. Tennis Open. He had already won the Australian Open, the French Open and the British Open. 


1957 - The Brooklyn Dodgers played their last game at Ebbets Field. 


1961 - "The Bullwinkle Show" premiered in prime time on NBC-TV. The show was originally on ABC in the afternoon as "Rocky and His Friends." 


1968 - "60 Minutes" premiered on CBS-TV. 

1977 - "The Love Boat" debuted on ABC-TV. The theme song was sung by Jack Jones and was written by Paul Williams and Charles Fox. 


1996 - The United States, represented by President Clinton, and the world's other major nuclear powers signed a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to end all testing and development of nuclear weapons. 

1998 - Elvis Presley was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. 


2003 - Anthony Hopkins received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, September 24

Your goal is to find harmony and peace, as an organized, smooth-flowing existence is especially appealing to you. However, you seem to stir up controversy and opposition. Look within for contradictions if ups and downs are bothering you. Be careful not to give up your power in order to keep the peace, or you could find yourself resentful, irritable, and mischievous! Your heart is big and you are truly curious about how things work. At your best, you are compassionate and giving. At your worst, you may be somewhat controlling! You tend to stick things out in your relationships. Famous people born today: 

1501 Girolamo Cardano, Italian mathematicianand astrologer (Ars Magna-1545), born in Pavia, Italy (d. 1576)

1755 John Marshall, 4th Chief Justice of the United States (1801-35), born in Germantown, Virginia (d. 1835)

1896 F. Scott Fitzgerald, American author (Great Gatsby, Zelda), born in St. Paul, Minnesota (d. 1940)

1898 Howard Florey, Australian pathologist and pharmacologist who purified penicillin (Nobel 1945), born in Adelaide, South Australia (d. 1968)

1936 Jim Henson, muppeteer (Sesame Street, Muppet Show), born in Greenville, Mississippi (d. 1990)

1941 Linda McCartney [Eastman], American photographer and musician (Wings) and wife of Paul McCartney, born in New York City (d. 1998)

1948 Phil Hartman, Canadian-American actor(SNL, Peewee's Playhouse), born in Brantford, Ontario (d. 1998)



READERS INFO

1.

Jane and Jim Henson. Jim Henson and friends. James Maury "Jim" Henson  (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990) Jim Henson was the beloved puppeteer and creator of The Muppets, Sesame Street, and Fraggle Rock. He created the iconic puppets Kermit the Frog, Oscar the Grouch, and Bert and Ernie. He was honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as both himself and Kermit the Frog.

2.

Reading Fall Festival of the Arts 2018

Sep 16-30, 2018 | Sep 30, 2018 | Reading, PA 

Trinity Lutheran Church|527 Washington St

God bestowed a particular gift within all of us, and it’s your job to ensure you utilize yours. As the most colorful season of the year, this fall festival brings church members and the community together to celebrate artistic expression. Tons of original art will grace the scene to add to the already-dazzling work of the autumn equinox.

further information: Historic Trinity Lutheran Church - Reading, PA

3.

Together Boston 2018

Sep 23-30, 2018 | Cambridge, MA 

Multiple Locations in Cambridge|614 Massachusetts Ave

First held in 2010, Together Boston celebrates the fields of art, music and technology over the course of a week. The event features discussion panels, music performances, art installations and film screenings in various venues around Cambridge and Boston. Not only do the showcases strive to highlight the city's abundance of creativity, but they reveal the similarities and shared characteristics of various art forms.

further information: Together Festival | Music. Art. Technology.

4.

Expo Chicago 2018

Sep 27-30, 2018 | Chicago, IL

Navy Pier|600 E Grand Ave 

Kick off the fall art season each September at Chicago’s iconic Navy Pier with the International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art. Similar to Miami’s world-famous Art Basel, EXPO CHICAGO showcases the artwork of 140 top galleries from around the globe. In addition to its critical role as a discovery platform for curators, collectors and art patrons, the festival also features Special Exhibitions, a unique Dialogues panel and other dynamic on-site programming.

further information: EXPO CHICAGO - Chicago International Contemporary Art Fair

Pictures of the day


Lady Seated at a Virginal is a painting by Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer painted in approximately 1670–72. It shows a woman playing a virginal, with a viola da gamba depicted in the foreground, its bow between the strings. There is a painting depicted on the wall, which is either the original or a copy of Dirck van Baburen's The Procuress. It is one of several works by Vermeer featuring keyboard instruments, including The Music Lesson, The Concert, and Lady Standing at a Virginal. Scholars believe these may all be based on the same instrument, built by Johannes Ruckers. Lady Seated at a Virginal is in the National Gallery, London.

LONDON, ENGLAND

A slice of London's life encompassing a few of its most recognizable 'branding' - Tower Bridge and a red double decker bus.

knit
thanks, Judith

One for the Books pattern by Martina Behm

knit
thanks, Marcy

Flax Light pattern by tincanknits

knit

Lavender Sachet Dolls

https://downloads.lovecrafts.com/pdf/2255ede729a86ab7b5f98a2f43f35b2d0b71e7f6.pdf?

knit

Little Scholar Cardigan

knit

Diagonal Scarf

crochet

thanks, Gabby

cumulus

crochet

thanks, Lois

Succulent Scrubbies

crochet

Ezra the Elephant

crochet

COZY FRINGED COWL

http://www.yarnspirations.com/patterns/cozy-fringed-cowl.html?

crochet

September Flower pattern by Jessica Phillips

				September Flower pattern by Jessica Phillips This square is part of the Designer Showcase in the Melinda Miller Designs forum here on Ravelry.
				View on www.ravelry.com	Preview by Yahoo

RECIPE

thanks, Shelley

Three-Cup Chicken

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017456-three-cup-chicken?

CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, Molly

Easy Slowcooked Meatloaf

SWEETS

thanks, Jane

Acorn Squash Streusel Pie

ADULT COLORING

CRAFTS

Marbled Candle Votive

Home and Garden DIY Ideas

CHILDREN'S CORNER ... game

BRAIN BUSTERS

answers to each of the 'games:

PUZZLE

Pink Flower Sticky Jigsaw Puzzle



WORD SEARCH

acquire acute answer ante ascent blunt casual cell concept continue

detest doctor engineer examine exploration extra greed

hinder inmate issues light lore lunar

maple meet movie patient pilot present prevent

quest relay science secure smell strange vale

SUDOKU ... very hard

solution:

QUOTE

thanks, Helen

CLEVER

EYE OPENER

thanks, Patty

The Annual Festivals That Draw the Most People 

in Every State

Every state has that one big event each year that draws residents from across the region or even across the nation. Louisiana has Mardi Gras. Kentucky has the Kentucky Derby. South Dakota has Sturgis. Genfare, a company that provides fare collection technology for transit companies, recently tracked down the biggest event in each state, creating a rundown of the can't-miss events across the country.

As the graphic below explores, some states' biggest public events are national music and entertainment festivals, like Bonnaroo in Tennessee, SXSW in Texas, and Summerfest in Wisconsin—which holds the world record for largest music festival.

Others are standard public festival fare. Minnesota hosts 2 million people a year at the Minnesota State Fair (pictured above), the largest of its kind in the U.S. by attendance. Mardi Gras celebrations dominate the events calendar in Missouri, Alabama, and, of course, Louisiana. Oktoberfest and other beer festivals serve as the biggest gatherings in Ohio (home to the nation's largest Oktoberfest event), Oregon, Colorado, and Utah.

In some states, though, the largest annual gatherings are a bit more unique. Some 50,000 people each year head to Brattleboro, Vermont for the Strolling of the Heifers, a more docile spin on the Spanish Running of the Bulls. Montana's biggest event is Evel Knievel Days, an extreme sports festival in honor of the famous daredevil. And Washington's biggest event is Hoopfest, Spokane's annual three-on-three basketball tournament.

Mark your calendar. Next year could be the year you attend them all.