DIANE'S CORNER ...
Celebrate Cat Herders Day
You’ve probably heard the saying that something is as impossible as “herding cats”, used in reference to a seemingly futile or difficult task. Granted, if you have actually attempted to literally herd a bunch of cats for some reason or the other, you would know exactly how impossible this task actually is.
All of that said, as far as we know, there’s no one out there who’s actually a professional cat herder. If there were, this day would actually be for those folks. This is a day for everyone who has to face the frustration of trying to manage the unmanageable, anyone whose day to day life involves insurmountable tasks.
History of Cat Herders’ Day
While the idiom that something impossible is “like herding cats” is a popular saying now, the phrase has relatively recent origins – one story has it that IT expert Dave Platt popularized the phrase when he said that “managing senior programmers is like herding cats”. What we can say is that the phrase is pretty suitable for what it describes. And while cats are independent, solitary, and easily distracted, many humans also share this characteristic.
So you may well have to complete tasks that are in fact as difficult as herding cats, even if you’ve never seen or heard of a cat until now. Anyway, we know that Cat Herders’ Day was invented sometime in the last decade, and is basically one of those cheeky holidays that you can celebrate however you want.
Word of the Day
| |||
| Definition: | (noun) The superior of a group of nuns. | ||
| Synonyms: | mother superior, prioress | ||
| Usage: | The abbess welcomed the novice to the convent with a warm smile, putting her immediately at ease. | ||
Idiom of the Day
tell (someone's) fortune— To (profess to) anticipate and inform someone about certain outcomes or events in his or her near or distant future. |
This Day in History
Billionaire's Grandson Found Alive-But Maimed-after Kidnapping (1973)
In 1973, 16-year-old John Paul Getty III—grandson of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty—was kidnapped in Rome. His family initially dismissed a $17-million ransom demand as a joke by the rebellious teen, but a second note convinced his father to ask J. Paul to pay it. He refused. The frustrated kidnappers then cut off John's ear and sent it along with a note saying he would "arrive in little pieces" if their demands were not met. At this, the elder Getty relented, paying over $2 million.
Ludwig Lazarus "L. L." Zamenhof (1859)
Born and raised in Bialystok, a city on the Polish-Russian border populated by Poles, Germans, and Belarusians, Zamenhof was profoundly affected by the ethnic conflict he witnessed all around him. In his estimation, the primary cause of such conflict was mutual misunderstanding. Thus, he reasoned, removing communication barriers would foster peace. To this end, the young doctor and linguist devoted himself to developing an international language called "Esperanto."
Bill of Rights Day
| The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution of 1787—referred to collectively as the Bill of Rights—were ratified on December 15, 1791. This landmark document protected American citizens from specific abuses by their government and guaranteed such basic rights as the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt designated December 15 as Bill of Rights Day and called upon Americans to observe it with appropriate patriotic ceremonies. |
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1815 - Jane Austen's "Emma" was published.
1840 - Napoleon Bonapart's remains were interred in Les Invalides in Paris, having been brought from St. Helena, where he died in exile.
1925 - The third Madison Square Gardens opened.
1938 - U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt presided over the ground-breaking ceremonies for the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC.
1939 - "Gone With the Wind," produced by David O. Selznick based on the novel by Margaret Mitchell, premiered at Loew's Grand Theater in Atlanta. The movie starred Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable.
1944 - Dr. R. Townley Paton and a small group of doctors laid the groundwork for the Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration.
1964 - Canada's House of Commons approved a newly designed flag thereby dropping the Canadian "Red Ensign" flag.
1970 - The Soviet probe Venera 7 became the first spacecraft to land softly on the surface of Venus. The probe only survived the extreme heat and pressure for about 23 minutes and transmitted the first data received on Earth from the surface of another planet.
1997 - The San Francisco 49ers retired Joe Montana's number 16 during halftime of a game against the Denver Broncos.
2000 - The Chernobyl atomic power plant in Kiev, Ukraine, was shut down.
2001 - It was announced that Siena Heights University would begin offering a class called "Animated Philosophy and Religion." The two-credit class would cover how religion and philosophy are part of popular culture and is based on the television series "The Simpsons."
DAILY SQU-EEK
If You Were Born Today, December 15
You are versatile, witty, and often quite impulsive. Mentally restless, you are curious and easily bored if left without new and stimulating things to do, or at least to talk about. You are quick to take action, and often jump into new endeavors blind, figuring that you can pick up any pieces later, if need be. You can be accident-prone as a result. Very good-hearted, you easily empathize with others and while you tend to keep some distance emotionally, you readily help out anyone in need. You are a great lover of debate and any kind of friendly competition. Famous people born today:
1832 Gustave Eiffel, French engineer and architect who designed and built the Eiffel tower, born in Dijon, France (d. 1923)
1852 Henri Becquerel, French physicist who discovered radioactivity (Nobel 1903), born in Paris, France (d. 1908)
1892 J. Paul Getty, American oil magnate and billionaire (Getty Oil), born in Minneapolis, Minnesota (d. 1976)
1945 Michael King, New Zealand historian and author (Penguin History of New Zealand), born in Wellington, New Zealand
READERS INFO
1.
1818 -
"Silent Night" was performed for the first time, at the Church of St. Nikolaus in Oberndorff, Austria (above) on this day in 1818.
2.
1938 -
President Franklin Roosevelt attended the ground-breaking ceremony for the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. The monument's location was controversial and led to a protest known as the "Cherry Tree Rebellion."
The Jefferson Memorial was built on the Tidal Basin, which required the transplantation of several cherry blossom trees that had been planted at the location in 1912 as part of a gift from Japan. On Nov. 17, 1938, a group of women marched on Washington with a petition to protest the removal of the cherry trees. Some women later chained themselves to the trees to prevent their removal. The women eventually dispersed, and President Roosevelt had the trees removed at night. Some of the cherry trees died during the transplantation process. Despite the protest, the Jefferson Memorial continued to be built at that site. At the groundbreaking ceremony, President Roosevelt gave a speech honoring Jefferson's contributions as a founding father and as the third president of the United States.
The Jefferson Memorial was designed by architect John Russell Pope in the neoclassical style. Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. was the landscape architect. Rudolph Evans created the Thomas Jefferson sculpture housed at the memorial. The Jefferson Memorial remains a popular tourist attraction, and it hosts several ceremonies each year including, ironically, events for the Cherry Blossom Festival.
3.
DECEMBER 26, 2018 - JANUARY 1, 2019 -
Kwanzaa is an African American holiday celebrated from December 26th through January 1st. It is based on the agricultural celebrations of Africa called "the first fruits" celebrations which were times of harvest, ingathering, reverence, commemoration, recommitment, and celebration. Therefore, Kwanzaa is a time of ingathering of African Americans for celebration of their heritage and their achievements, reverence for the Creator and creation, commemoration of the past, recommitment to cultural ideals and celebration of the good. To achieve this Kwanzaa focuses on fundamental collective values rooted in African culture and reflected in the best practices of African American people. Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chair, Department of Black Studies, California State University, Long Beach; chair of the Organization Us and the National Association of Kawaida Organizations (NAKO); author and scholar-activist who stresses the indispensable need to preserve, continually revitalize and promote African culture. Finally, it is important to note Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday, not a religious one, therefore it is available to and practiced by Africans of all religious faiths.
Pictures of the day
Emmeline Pankhurst (née Goulden, 1858–1928) was a British political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement, who helped women win the right to vote. The first election with female voters was the general election of 14 December 1918. In 1999 Time named Pankhurst as one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century, stating "she shaped an idea of women for our time; she shook society into a new pattern from which there could be no going back". She was widely criticized for her militant tactics, and historians disagree about their effectiveness, but her work is recognized as a crucial element in achieving women's suffrage in the United Kingdom.
UBS Tower in St. Paul, Minn.
knit
thanks, Renee
knit
thanks, Emily
knit
knit
knit
crochet
thanks, Valerie
thanks, Doris
crochet
crochet
RECIPE
thanks, Shelley
CROCKPOT RECIPE
recipe inspired by Heide
ADULT COLORING ... Christmas
CRAFTS ... Christmas
thanks, Kathy
CHILDREN'S CORNER ... Christmas
thanks, Kitty
PUZZLE
| agree apply appreciate barely basket bliss coma comic | destruction entice exact freak gifts glimpse | hake level locate manipulate mass muzzle mystery presents | quake quiet safety satisfy sirs sling spouse sting | tail true vague wetsuit yield |
SUDOKU ... hard
solution:
QUOTE ... Christmas
CLEVER ... Christmas
Christmas candy sleighs make cheap and easy gifts for kids and teachers.
EYE OPENER
RARE and ASTONISHING PHOTOS
This beautiful lighthouse situated in the coast of France was hit by a huge, high pressure wave in the year 1989. But, see the game of nature, the man present in that lighthouse survived somehow. In the photo depicted here, this famous lighthouse named- Phares dans La Tempete, one can see how a huge wave is about to engulf it.
Like all of us, a woman went to camping about 30 years ago. She was in her tent when she heard strange noises during the night. Curiosity lead her to peep outside the tent and she was so mesmerized by the view that she snapped this photo by hanging her camera outside the tent. Raccoons are those mammals who love solitary. But this photo speaks a different story. They all can be seen at that campsite. Been nocturnal, they are awake at night. Also, they are omnivores and can hunt wherever they find a good opportunity.
There is nothing special about the goats of Morocco, but it is the tree which is special. This tree is known as Argania Tree which produces tasty nuts as its fruit. These nuts are loved by goats and they clearly can’t get enough of it. Goats can climb, due to their strong feet, this is the reason as to why, at times, they even climb to the top most branches as well. Goats are also herd animals, once they spot one of their friend on the Argania Tree, others will follow.
Some people love to get clicked in and during crazy situations. So, is this woman who decides to get her photo clicked with an aggressive Tornado in the background in 1989. This girl named Audra Thomas of Beaver City, Nebraska seems to be calm and composed in the photo, while an F- tornado is approaching from behind her. The National Weather Service has often warned people about the related risk in taking selfies with a tornado or twisters for safety reasons.
President Theodore Roosevelt rode a moose across a river in 1908. Don’t get excited as this photo is totally fake and was created for a political ad. This was to be used during the Presidential election when Teddy Roosevelt was running for the Progressive Party, whose mascot was the moose.
Wolf spider is the spider class which carries its eggs with her, wrapped around its abdomen in a bundle. Once these eggs are hatched after 10- 27 days, the spiderlings hug their mother’s back and stay there until they are big enough to find food for themselves. This picture depicts, small spiderlings clinging to their mother’s back.
Rare, rather the only photo of the giant 28 feet crocodile that was killer in Queensland, Australia in the year 1957. This daring activity was done by a female provide hunter. A Polish Immigrant named Krystina Pawlowski gained popularity as a female crocodile hunter, who shot this 28 feet crocodile. A crocodile of this size was uncommon in Queensland, plus, it was killed in a single shot by a female hunter. This earned her a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Bears rarely attack humans and this photo is one of its kind. Natives who visit the backwoods of Alaska are more likely to die from bee sting or snake bite rather killed by a bear. This notion has been established since ages that human beings are afraid of being eaten by a wild animal. Thus, one should be alert and attentive if he/she is entering the natural habitat of the animals, for example, riding a bike.
Fans of Sylvester Stallone and his movies must remember a scene from 1976’s film ‘Rocky’ where he brought two tiny turtles for his girlfriend Adrian working at a pet store. You would be shocked to know that those, red water sliders are still alive and have turned 44. Stallone kept those turtles with him after the film wrapped up and he still has them today. They have names too – Cuff and Link.
An ancient Magalodon compared to modern day Great White shark. Looking at the size, we all pray to God that, Magalodon is extinct today. As this photo shows as to how big and huge this creature was. The fossil remains are only enough to terrorize anyone. Magalodon could grow up to 60 feet in length and had a bit of force of 40,000 pounds.
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