Girl Scout Day - March 12, 2019

DIANE'S CORNER ... 

Celebrate Girl Scout Day

Their smiles, their adorable little outfits, their delicious cookies, their pledge to “be ready to help out wherever they are needed”—what’s not to love about Girl Scouts? For the 200 million boxes of cookies they bring right to our doors every year alone, they deserve their own holiday. Not to mention all of the other good they have done!

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History of Girl Scout Day

Girl Scouts came into existence in 1912, when a woman named Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low organized the first ever Girl Scout meeting in Savannah, Georgia, with just 18 girls from the surrounding area. Low had spend considerable time thinking about what could be done to help young women get outdoors and become more independent, self-reliant and resourceful so they could become better citizens in the future. From the very beginning, the Girl Scouts have been an organization run by women, for women, and over a hundred years after its creation, it has grown to 3.7 million members worldwide. It has been estimated that, since its inception, 50 million girls and women have been member of the organization. Membership is organized by age, and there are different activities available at each level, all suited to the individual needs of each age group. The Girl Scouts is an organization for American girls and American girls living abroad, traditionally ages 5 to 18. Girl Scouts typically meet in groups called a troop, with the troops being run by volunteers, who are often parents of troop members. This makes the Girl Scouts a very close-knit organization.

Girl Scout Day is celebrated on the date that Low organized the first Girl Scout meeting, on March 12th.
RARE HISTORICAL PHOTOS - standardnews

Before they were known as the world-famous Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison helped form a band called The Quarrymen, seen here singing at a wedding in 1958.

Word of the Day

selfie

A selfie with President Obama on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson

MEANING:

noun: A self-portrait, typically taken with a phone camera.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Old English self. Earliest documented use: 2002.

USAGE:

“On December 11, engineers directed InSight [NASA’s Mars lander] to take its first selfie.”
Chelsea Gohd and Jake Parks; InSight Sets up Shop on Mars; Astronomy (Milwaukee, Wisconsin); Apr 2019.

NOTES:

A photograph taken by a cell phone is called a selfie, not cellfie (or cellphie), though that would make sense too. The selfie craze has spread widely. Our fellow creatures on this planet have gotten into the game as well, though it’s not known whether they post those pictures on their Instagram (and make a living as an influencer).
Robots too have caught the selfie bug (see the usage example above)! Not sure about other robots, but let’s not be too hard on InSight, the Mars lander. If I traveled 300 million miles to reach some place, I too might take a selfie or two.

Actor Steve Buscemi used to be a firefighter in New York City (his hometown). On 9/11, Buscemi famously went to Ground Zero to volunteer and help wherever he was needed.

Idiom of the Day

a fish out of water

Meaning 

• being uncomfortable and restless
• falling into the state of confusion
• to feel awkward due to a specific/strange situation
• being in an unusual situation
• not feeling relaxed
• away from the familiar environment

Example

Sara has certainly not looked like a fish out of water in the mathematics lecture, since she is taking some online classes to improve her concepts.

Origin

The idiom fish out of water alludes to someone exposed to an unknown situation. This expression makes reference to the fact that fish cannot survive on dry land for a long time which is out their habitat. The earliest reference to be traced is in Samuel Purchas’s Pilgrimage in 1613 as:

“The Arabians out of the deserts are as Fishes out of the water”

Before she was Wonder Woman, Lynda Carter was just a mild-mannered model in New York City (left), looking very Clark Kent-ish in her glasses and newspaper in hand in 1970. A photo shoot (middle) later that year would show off her sultry side and help the young model earn a place in the Miss World USA pageant, which she would win. She then flew to London (right) to compete in the international Miss World competition, finishing in the semifinals.

This Day in History

1789 - The U.S. Post Office was established. 

1884 - The State of Mississippi authorized the first state-supported college for women. It was called the Mississippi Industrial Institute and College. 

1894 - Coca-Cola was sold in bottles for the first time. 

1912 - The Girl Scout organization was founded. The original name was Girl Guides. 

1923 - Dr. Lee De Forest demonstrated phonofilm. It was his technique for putting sound on motion picture film. 

1966 - Bobby Hull, of the Chicago Blackhawks, became the first National Hockey League (NHL) player to score 51 points in a single season. 


1974 - "Wonder Woman" debuted on ABC-TV. The show later went to CBS-TV. 


1987 - "Les Miserables" opened on Broadway. 


1994 - A photo by Marmaduke Wetherell of the Loch Ness monster was confirmed to be a hoax. The photo was taken of a toy submarine with a head and neck attached. 


1994 - The Church of England ordained its first women priests. 

2002 - U.S. homeland security chief Tom Ridge unveiled a color-coded system for terror warnings. 


2003 - In Utah, Elizabeth Smart was reunited with her family nine months after she was abducted from her home. She had been taken on June 5, 2002, by a drifter that had previously worked at the Smart home. 


2009 - It was announced that the Sears Tower in Chicago, IL, would be renamed Willis Tower. 



DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, March 12

No matter what your age, you always remain youthful and playful. You are open to a wide range of ideas, and you have a real sense of the right words to say or write and the best way to present an idea. You would be excellent at promotion or advertising, and also make a warm and interesting friend who always seems to lend a hand or lift others' spirits with words of encouragement. At times impatient with others, your warm heart wins in the end. Famous people born today:

1821 John Abbott, 3rd Canadian Prime Minister(1891-92), born in Saint-Andre, Quebec (d. 1893)

1922 Jack Kerouac, American Beat writer (On the Road, Mexico Blues), born in Lowell, Massachusetts (d. 1969)

1928 Edward Albee, American playwright (Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf?), born in Virginia (d. 2016)

1946 Liza Minnelli, American singer/actress(Sterile Cuckoo, Cabaret), born in Hollywood, California

1947 Mitt Romney, 70th Republican Governor of Massachusetts and presidential candidate, born in Detroit, Michigan

1962 Darryl Strawberry, American MLB right fielder (8-time All Star), born in Los Angeles, California

READERS INFO

1.

Four State Retro Pop & Comic Con 2019

Mar 23 - 24, 2019 | Hagerstown, MD 

  Hager Hall|901 Dual Hwy

There’s no telling when you’ll literally be able to escape into your comics, but this nerdtastic event is the next best option. The Four State Retro Pop & Comic Con features two days’ worth of fanatical, cosplaying geeks, celebrity appearances and non-stop pop culture celebrations. You can browse a seemingly endless number of tables of comic books, anime merchandise and many other items to satisfy your geekiest fantasies.

further information: Four State Comic Con (Hagerstown, MD) | Harrisburg Comic & Pop Con

2.

University of Central Missouri Children's Literature Festival 2019

Mar 17-19, 2019 | Warrensburg, MO

Are you worried that Junior isn’t reading enough? Shuffle him off to the Children’s Literature Festival at the University of Central Missouri so he can see what he’s missing. Schoolchildren throughout the state are treated to a phenomenal group of children’s authors and illustrators who clue them in on the magical world of reading. Their engaging lectures and sensational works will make Junior’s eyes light up like a jack-o’-lantern and make him ditch the PlayStation for a stack of books.

further information: O, Miami 2019 Festival

3.

Lone Star LesFic Festival 2019

Apr 28, 2019 | Austin, TX 

  Norris Conference Centers|2525 W Anderson Ln

Surprise your favorite women with lesbian fiction. 

further information: Lone Star LesFic Festival

4.

O, Miami Poetry Festival 2019

April 1 - 30, 2019 | Miami, FL 

The O, Miami Poetry Festival is a city-wide event that promotes the appreciation and overall appropriation of poetry as an art form. The festival began as an attempt to revitalize public interest in poetry and create new platforms on which to present the work of established as well as unknown poets. Festivalgoers and Miami residents can rediscover poetry in a fun an accessible environment that offers public projections of poetry, live readings and poetry karaoke, where attendees can perform the works of literary legends such as Shakespeare.

further information: O, Miami 2019 Festival

Before he was racking up acting awards up and down Hollywood, Academy Award-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones was racking up massive hits for the Harvard University Crimson back in 1960.

Pictures of the day

The USS Port Royal (CG-73) is a United States Navy guided missile cruiser, the last to be constructed in the 20th century, and the first cruiser to integrate women into the crew. The ship was deployed in 1996 as part of the Nimitz (CVN-68) battle group. 

Hover Boats in Menorca, Spain

Menorca (or Minorca) is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. Its name derives from its size, contrasting it with nearby Majorca. According to the Lonely Planet:

Menorca (population 92,000) is the least overrun and most tranquil of the Balearic Islands. In 1993 Unesco declared it a Biosphere Reserve, aiming to preserve environmental areas, such as the Parc Natural S’Albufera d’es Grau wetlands, and the island’s unique archaeological sites. Its 216 km coastline is fretted with relatively untouched beaches, coves and ravines. Inland, criss-crossing its fields and green, rolling hills are an estimated 70,000 km of dry stone walls. [source]

Menorca is the first place in Spain to see the sun rise.

In this lovely photo (with the saturation seemingly set to maximum), we see boats that appear to hover over the incredibly clear, turquoise water. While other photos of the area do not portray the water quite so blue and clear, nobody denies the natural beauty of Menorca.

Actor Jerry Stiller walks with his son Ben on the streets of New York City in June 1978. Ben Stiller would go on to become one of the biggest stars of post-2000 Hollywood.

knit
thanks, Sheri

LaLa's Simple Shawl pattern by Laura Linneman

knit
thanks, Connie

Rebeca de punto -Pink Lady pattern by Marta Porcel

knit

https://www.loveknitting.com/us/snowfall-wristwarmers-in-paintbox-yarns-simply-aran-downloadable-pdf

knit

Fauxthropologie Fox Stole pattern by Katie Cunningham

knit

Owlie Socks pattern by Julie Elswick Suchomel

Young Brad Pitt (front row center) holds a trophy and a basketball in this photo from the actor’s youth. Pitt played for the Cherokee Rejects, but would one day go on to not be rejected by Hollywood talent scouts.

Knit Pattern of the Day: Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Carnival Carousel Baby Blanket pattern by Shannon Charles

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has twice been arrested for driving infractions, with this famous mugshot from Dec. 13, 1977, courtesy of the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Department, being widely circulated after Gates became a famous billionaire.

crochet
thanks, Helen

Heartland Boho Crochet Wrap

crochet
thanks, Doris

Charybdis pattern by Silke Terhorst

crochet

MESH PULLOVER SWEATER

crochet

Wolf and Fox

crochet .. St. Patrick's Day

Shamrock Toque (Hat)

Albert Einstein had numerous loves throughout his life, but maybe none more intriguing than that of Margarita Konenkova, an alleged Russian spy (code name: Lukas) who also allegedly pursued relationships with the famed composer Sergei Rachmaninoff and other influential men. This photo was taken by Konenkova’s husband, Sergei Konenkov, a famous Russian sculptor.

RECIPE

thanks, Shelley

Boston Market Meatloaf By Todd Wilbur Recipe

Surely no one who takes a photo like this would ever accomplish much, but it turns out this man would go on to become a civil rights attorney before becoming a  constitutional lawyer at the University of Chicago Law School. Oh yeah, he did achieve this little thing called being president of the United States. You may have heard of it.

CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, Tina

Slow Cooker Creole Chicken and Sausage

Here is a very young Robert Downey, Jr., with his father’s friend, famed heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson

SWEETS ... St. Patrick's Day

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Guinness, Whiskey and Irish Cream Cupcakes

Guinness cupcakes topped with frosting made with Irish cream liqueur.

Makes: 24 cupcakes / Preparation time: 40 minutes / Total time: 2 hours
These Guinness cupcakes have a ganache center made with Jameson whiskey, and they're topped with frosting made with Baileys Irish Cream.

CUPCAKES
1 cup Guinness stout
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1½ teaspoons baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt
2 eggs at room temperature
⅔ cup low-fat sour cream

GANACHE
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate
⅔ cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
2 teaspoons Irish whiskey

FROSTING
2½ sticks unsalted butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
6 tablespoons Irish cream liqueur

To make the cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 cupcake cups. Bring the Guinness and butter to a simmer in a heavy, medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder and whisk until the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and cool slightly.

In a mixing bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. In a separate large bowl, beat the eggs and sour cream on medium speed until combined. Add the Guinness-chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and beat just to combine. Reduce the speed to low, then add the flour mixture and mix until all is incorporated. Divide the batter among the cupcake liners. Bake until a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean, about 17 minutes. Cool the cupcakes on a rack.

To make the ganache: While cupcakes cool, finely chop the chocolate and transfer it to a heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, heat the cream until simmering and pour it over the chocolate. Let it sit for 1 minute and then, using a rubber spatula, stir it from the center outward until smooth. Add the butter and whiskey and stir until combined. Let the ganache cool until thick but still soft enough to be piped.

To fill the cupcakes: Using a 1-inch round cookie cutter (or the bottom of a large decorating tip), cut the centers out of the cooled cupcakes, going about two-thirds of the way down. Transfer the ganache to a piping bag with a wide tip and fill the holes in each cupcake to the top.

To make the frosting: In a mixing bowl, whip the butter on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. Reduce the speed to medium-low and gradually add the powdered sugar until all of it is incorporated. Add the Baileys, increase the speed to medium-high and whip for another 2 to 3 minutes, until frosting is light and fluffy.

Using your favorite decorating tip or an offset spatula, frost the cupcakes and decorate with sprinkles, if desired. Store the cupcakes in an airtight container.

Ernest Hemingway is one of the most famous American writers in the nation’s history, and also is widely known to have an extensive background serving and working in the military. Here is Hemingway (second man from the left) standing alongside other soldiers and nurses at an American Red Cross hospital in Milan, Italy, during World War I.

ADULT COLORING

Former Vice President Joe Biden was a political heartthrob for millions, but after this photo resurfaced of a then 26-year-old Biden, many others decided politics were a non-factor in determining his heartthrob status, and the political heavyweight gained a whole new legion of fans.

CRAFTS

thanks, Hazel

How To Make A Draft Stopper Out Of Socks

In this promotional image from Universal Pictures, actress Ava Gardner and actor Burt Lancaster play around on a beach during filming of their 1946 film, The Killers.

CHILDREN'S CORNER ... painting

thanks, Iris

Painting Fireworks

In this 1972 photo, Phil Collins of the progressive rock group Genesis records drums in the studio of Famous Charisma Records.

PUZZLE

(not the exact image, but close)Drift Wood Beach Jigsaw Puzzle

He would soon be most recognizable for his fists as weapons, but here’s a mid-1960s image of Bruce Lee as a thug in an early TV appearance in Los Angeles.

WORD SEARCH

angle badger beak bother choice choke daddy decision

destroy dirty documentary empty escape firefly float floss

fluid force fray fudge head heard hobos hopeless

inherit locate money novel null peel playful

smoke sound splash stone sugar transgression video

Roberta ‘Bobbi’ Gibb was the first woman to run the entire Boston Marathon in 1966. Here she is going for a run along the Headlands by the ocean in Rockport, Massachusetts, in 1983.

SUDOKU ... very hard

solution: 

At the 1936 Olympic Games, Germany’s ascension to world power was in full throttle. The nationalist movement under Adolf Hitler was powered by Hitler’s Aryan superiority beliefs. But American track and field star Jesse Owens didn’t subscribe to Hitler’s ideas, and used his athleticism to disprove Hitler’s theories taking gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m, and long-jump events. Here is Owens proudly giving an American-style salute atop the podium during the long-jump ceremony, as German Luz Long gives a Nazi salute behind him.

QUOTE

Using nonviolent civil disobedience, Mahatma Gandhi became the leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule that helped inspire other movements of independence and freedom across the world. Here is a young Gandhi in 1921, one year after he became leader of the Indian National Congress.

CLEVER

SLIDESHOW

7 Hacks to Help Your Body Cope With Winter

Before she was a sex symbol and cultural icon, Marilyn Monroe was just your average brown, curly-haired girl growing up in America. This old photo reportedly is from 1938 when Monroe was just 12 years old.

EYE OPENER

These Are the Best Ways to Improve Your Memory