Wright Brothers' Day - December 17, 2018

DIANE'S CORNER ... 

Celebrate Wright Brothers' Day

The Wright brothers are widely believed to have invented the aeroplane. However, there are several competing claims that make it difficult to determine whether or not they were actually the first to accomplish heavier-than-air powered flight. Regardless of those competing claims, the Wright Flyer was the first patented aircraft. Orville and Wilbur Wright made further experiments during the first decade of the 20th century, which would prove indispensable to the development of the airplane. Quite simply, while we may never know if anyone flew before the Wrights, there is no doubt that they contributed significantly to the history of aviation.

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History of Wright Brothers’ Day

On September 24, 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared the anniversary of the Wright Flyer’s maiden flight in 1903 to be a codified holiday (it is a commemorative day on government calendars, but is not technically a government holiday). It has been observed annually ever since then, both in honor of the pioneering experiments of the Wrights as well as to focus on the history of aviation technologies

Word of the Day

switchblade
Definition:	(noun) A pocketknife having a spring-operated blade that opens instantly when a release on the handle is pressed.
Synonyms:	flick-knife
Usage:	When I heard his switchblade snap open, I knew that our verbal altercation was about to become something much more gruesome.

Idiom of the Day

temper tantrum  — An extreme and childish display of unreasonable anger, frustration, or distemper.

This Day in History

US Brigadier General James Dozier Kidnapped by Italian Terrorists (1981)

In 1981, US Brigadier General James Dozier was kidnapped from his apartment in Italy by men posing as plumbers. The kidnappers were members of the Red Brigades, an extreme left-wing terrorist organization that sought to undermine the Italian state and pave the way for Marxist upheaval. Dozier, who was serving as deputy chief of staff at NATO's Southern European land forces headquarters in Verona, was the first American general ever abducted by a terrorist group.

Gabrielle-Émilie Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, Marquise du Châtelet (1706)

The wife of a French marquis, du Châtelet defied convention in both her personal and professional life. She was a mathematician and physicist and wrote a number of scientific treatises as well as a translation of Isaac Newton's Principia Mathematica. She had several extramarital affairs—the most enduring of which was with philosopher and writer Voltaire, who once described her as "a great man whose only fault was being a woman." 

Wright Brothers Day

It was on the morning of December 17, 1903 that Wilbur and Orville Wright became the first men to fly and control a powered heavier-than-air machine. Events on December 17 traditionally include a "flyover" by military aircraft and a special ceremony held at the Wright Brothers National Memorial, a 425-acre area that features a 60-foot granite pylon on top of Kill Devil Hill, where the Wright Brothers' camp was located. The flyover takes place at precisely 10:35 a.m., the time of the original flight in 1903.

Stories of "undiscovered" Chinese ceramics that sell for spectacular prices at auction inspire some to hunt through their attics for potential hidden treasure.

READ MORE:

Why your dusty bowls could be worth millions

1791 - A traffic regulation in New York City established the first street to go "One Way." 


1959 - The film "On the Beach" premiered in New York City and in 17 other cities. It was the first motion picture to debut simultaneously in major cities around the world. 

1965 - Judy Garland and The Supremes became first artists to perform at the Astrodome in Houston, TX. 


1969 - Television history was made when Tiny Tim and Miss Vicki Budinger were married on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson. 

1986 - Davina Thompson became the world's first recipient of a heart, lungs, and liver transplant. 

1997 - U.S. President Clinton signed the No Electronic Theft Act. The act removed protection from individuals who claimed that they took no direct financial gains from stealing copyrighted works and downloading them from the Internet. 

DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, December 16

You dislike planning ahead, preferring to wing it and then pick up the pieces, if necessary, later on. You see life as an adventure. Although your intuition is quite good, sometimes you act on impulse just for the sake of stirring things up. It's when you are acting on blind impulse rather than intuition that you are accident-prone (not just physically, either!). You are a natural psychologist, and your powers of observation when it comes to people are superb. Famous people born today:

1929 William Safire, American political columnist (NY Times) and speech writer (Nixon), born in NYC, New York (d. 2009)

1930 Bob Guccione, American publisher (Penthouse, Omni), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2010)

1936 Pope Francis [Jorge Mario Bergoglio], Catholic Pope (2013-) 1st Jesuit pope, 1st from the Americas and 1st non-European pope since Syrian Gregory III in 741, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina

1953 Bill Pullman, American actor (Sommersby, League of their Own, Independence Day), born in Hornell, New York

1975 Milla Jovovich, American actress (Return to Blue Lagoon, Chaplin), born in Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union

1978 Manny [Emmanuel Dapidran] Pacquiao, Filipino boxer (first ever eight-division world champion), born in Kibawe, Bukidnon, Philippines

READERS INFO

1.

1903 -

The first successful gasoline-powered airplane flight took place near Kitty Hawk, NC. on this day. Orville Wright was piloting the craft while his brother Wilbur ran alongside. 

2.

Armadillo Christmas Bazaar 2018

Dec 13-24, 2018 | Austin, TX

No matter the season, there’s always an authentic Austin experience just around the corner. Couple it with warm holiday cheer and you’ve got yourself one of the most magical events of the year. The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is one of Austin’s longest-running art and music festivals, with the first edition taking place in 1976 at the legendary Armadillo World Headquarters (AWHQ). 

further information: TICKETS

3.

Renegade Craft Fair 2018

Dec 22-23, 2018 | Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn Expo Center|72 Noble St 

The Renegade Craft Fair is a DIY craft celebration that showcases unique and emerging talents in the maker community. Founded in 2003, RCF now holds events in major markets across the country and even overseas. Built on the idea that there was no great venue for DIY crafters to showcase their work, Renegade has been a launching pad for countless buzzworthy artisans and craft businesses that just needed the right platform. The weekend engagement also features food trucks and pop-up bar tents.
further information: Renegade Craft \ New York

4.

Silverlake Flea 2018

Dec 22, 2018 | Dec 29, 2018 | Los Angeles, CA 

Micheltorena Elementary School|1511 Micheltorena St

Are you interested in DIY and vintage? You can have the best of both worlds at the Silverlake Flea Market, which was voted as L.A.’s best indie flea market. Mind-blowing discovery is inevitable! While you dig around for hand-selected vintage items, handmade gems, rare vinyl, collectible turntables and more, there is live music, several food trucks and other entertainment to aid your discoveries.

further information: https://www.silverlakeshop.com/



Pictures of the day


The Fountain of Qayt Bay is a domed public fountain (sabil) located on the western esplanade of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City, situated fifty metres west of the Dome of the Rock. Built in the fifteenth century by the Egyptians, it was completed in the reign of Qaitbay, Sultan of Egypt, after whom it is named. Placed on a raised prayer platform, together with a freestanding mihrab, the fountain is a three-tiered structure with a height of more than 13 metres (43 ft), and sits above an underground reservoir.

Scotland is the birthplace of golf

Children practicing their putting on their school’s soccer field. Scotland is the birthplace of golf, but fewer young people are taking up the sport.

thanks, Jane

knit, Christmas

Toque and Scarf Bottle Toppers

knit
thanks, Jennifer

Albert de Moncerf pattern by Caoua Coffee

knit
thanks, Sally

Free pattern: Blue King Cabled Mitts

knit
Easy Wear Cape

http://www.letsknit.co.uk/free-knitting-patterns/easy-wear-cape

knit


crochet, Christmas
thanks, Marge

Gingerbread Man Hot Pad

crochet
thanks, Valerie

Greenery Cables Cap
crochet

TWO COLOR BAG HOLDER

http://com.yarnspirations.pattern-pdfs.s3.amazonaws.com/Bernat_HandicrafterCottonweb1_cr_bagholder.en_US.pdf

crochet

Bachelor's Button Rug

crochet




RECIPE

thanks, Shelley

Spaghetti and Drop Meatballs With Tomato Sauce

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016833-spaghetti-and-drop-meatballs-with-tomato-sauce?

CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, Marge

Slow cooker vegetable lasagne

SWEETS

thanks, Gloria

Slow-Cooker Sour Cream Cheesecake

ADULT COLORING ... Christmas

CRAFTS ... Christmas

thanks, Marge

Snowman Pom Wreath Tutorial

CHILDREN'S CORNER ... Christmas

thanks, Cindy

HOLIDAY CANDLE

Here's how you can make your own holiday candle:

Pick up 2 small tea light candle holders from the craft store. Coat with a thick layer of mod podge and sprinkle with sea salt. Allow to dry. Once dry, the salt will still be slightly loose, so apply a thick layer of mod podge on top to secure it to the glass. Once completely dry, insert a candle & enjoy your "Snowy" votive.

PUZZLE

Gnome Right Jigsaw Puzzle

WORD SEARCH

ambiguous bereft bonus convention employ experiences

final guide ideal labor ladle

machinery mangle medication needy notion party point portent

remember role scorn short smile sneak swing

tender tile turkey unique world worn

SUDOKU ... hard

solution:

QUOTE ... Christmas

CLEVER ... Christmas

Master the Christmas tree napkin fold and you won't need to buy any special holiday napkins or napkin rings.

Christmas Tree Napkin Fold

thanks, Shelley

EYE OPENER

thanks, Patty

delanceyplace

Today's selection -- from Drunk Tank Pink by Adam Alter.

The rationale for red dresses: "It's not immediately obvious which color should maximize romantic success. Blue is the most popular color in the world, gray and black are associated with dominance and power, green is supposed to be soothing, and red is typically associated with love in popular culture. "In one experiment, five young women spent the day hitchhiking near a famous peninsula in Brittany, France, their safety monitored by several hidden observers. The women changed their shirts throughout the day, choosing randomly from a menu of black, white, red, yellow, blue, and green. Female drivers weren't particularly sympathetic, stopping only 5-9 percent of the time regardless of the color of the hitchhikers' T-shirts. Male motorists, on the other hand, were more considerate and more discerning: whereas only 12-14 percent of all male motorists stopped when the women wore black, white, yellow, blue, or green, 21 percent stopped when the women wore red shirts. Since only men were swayed by the color red, the researcher argued that red enhances romantic appeal specifically, rather than platonic attraction more generally.

"A similar experiment two years later suggested that the result wasn't a fluke. Sixty-four French women who had posted ads on a personals website agreed to participate in a yearlong study to test this question. Each woman created an ad featuring a color photo of her face and upper body, over which she wore a plain-colored T-shirt. For nine months the ads weren't changed at all -- except for the color of the women's tops. Every two weeks the experimenter digitally altered the color of each woman's top, choosing from the same six colors available to the female hitchhikers in the earlier experiment. Then they watched and waited while the women recorded the e-mails they received from thousands of interested men. As in the hitchhiking study, the women were far more popular when their shirts were red. During the nine-month period, 14-16 percent of their e-mails arrived when they wore the black, white, yellow, blue, and green shirts -- but 21 percent arrived when they wore the red shirt. "In explaining why red enhances sexual appeal, researchers reach back to the world of lower-order animals, where rich displays of red tend to promote sexual success. The reasoning behind this relationship differs for males and females. Female animals display their biological readiness for mating with vivid patches of red on their genitals, chest, and face. As females approach ovulation, their elevated estrogen levels promote blood flow, which in turn reddens their skin. Like lower-order animals, women experience reddening of their skin as they approach ovulation, and whenever they're sexually excited or aroused. It's no coincidence then, that femmes fatales in Jezebel, Dial M for Murder, and A Streetcar Named Desire wear red dresses, and Nathaniel Hawthorne's Hester Prynne was forced to advertise her adulterous past by wearing a scarlet letter. ... Meanwhile, a red heart signifies the romance of Valentine's Day, and red-light-district workers wear red lipstick and rouge to encourage business."