DIANE'S CORNER ...
Celebrate Sunglasses Day
Elton John has over a thousand pairs, Canadian singer Corey Hart only wears his at night, and you can tell the good guys from the bad guys in The Matrix by the shape of theirs. What am I talking about? Sunglasses, of course! There’s nothing quite as stylish as a pair of shades, so get out your aviators or your wayfarers and start celebrating Sunglasses Day!
Although the origins of Sunglasses Day are unknown, the history of sunglasses stretches as far back as 14th century China, where judges used eye wear made of smoke-colored quartz to mask their emotions. Fast-forward 600 years and modern sunglasses as we know them today were first marketed by entrepreneur Sam Foster on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
One other thing to remember is that sunglasses also help protect your eyes from harmful UV light, so channel your inner-cool and slip on those shades on Sunglasses Day!
thanks for sharing these "interesting world to contemplate" pics, Patty
This mysterious Japanese artist, who goes by the pseudonym of Ariduka55, or Monokubo, on social media channels, creates otherworldly illustrations that breathe life into a completely new fantasy world where giant animals live and evolve alongside humans. Monokubo is a 24-year-old artist from Japan.
Word of the Day
warhorse
MEANING:
noun:
1. A horse used in war. Also known as a charger.
2. An experienced, dependable person, thing, etc., one who has gone through many contests, battles, struggles, etc.
3. Something, such as a play, a piece of music, etc., that has been performed often to become hackneyed.
ETYMOLOGY:
From war, from Old English (werre) + horse, from hors. Earliest documented use: 1586.
USAGE:
“Ageless warhorse Petero Civoniceva says ending his highly decorated rugby league career back in Brisbane Broncos’ colors would be a fairy tale finish.”
Wayne Heming; Petero Hasn’t Ruled Out Broncos Farewell; Brisbane Times (Australia); Oct 16, 2009.
One of the more famous elements in Asian folklore is the Moon rabbit. It's a myth based on pareidolia that identifies the markings of the Moon as a rabbit. Although it originated in China, the myth eventually spread to other Asian cultures as well. Fun fact: the civilian name of the infamous character Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi is actually Tsukino Usagi which, you guessed it right, means - 'the rabbit of the moon'.
1. A horse used in war. Also known as a charger.
2. An experienced, dependable person, thing, etc., one who has gone through many contests, battles, struggles, etc.
3. Something, such as a play, a piece of music, etc., that has been performed often to become hackneyed.
Wayne Heming; Petero Hasn’t Ruled Out Broncos Farewell; Brisbane Times (Australia); Oct 16, 2009.
One of the more famous elements in Asian folklore is the Moon rabbit. It's a myth based on pareidolia that identifies the markings of the Moon as a rabbit. Although it originated in China, the myth eventually spread to other Asian cultures as well. Fun fact: the civilian name of the infamous character Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi is actually Tsukino Usagi which, you guessed it right, means - 'the rabbit of the moon'.
Idiom of the Day
Cook someone's goose -
Meaning - Spoil other person's chances of success.
Example - When the opponent team saw Indian batsmen taking wicket after wicket, they realized that their goose was cooked.
Fun fact: did you know that in traditional Japanese architecture, a door, window or room divider made of translucent paper over a frame of wood is called shōji? It probably all comes down to the Japanese love for minimalism, for the purpose of shōji doors is to slide open, and thus conserve space that would be otherwise required for a swinging door.
This Day in History
1693 - "The Ladies' Mercury" was published by John Dunton in London. It was the first women's magazine and contained a "question and answer" column that became known as a "problem page."
1787 - Edward Gibbon completed "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." It was published the following May.
1885 - Chichester Bell and Charles S. Tainter applied for a patent for the gramophone. It was granted on May 4, 1886.
1924 - Democrats offered Mrs. Leroy Springs for vice presidential nomination. She was the first woman considered for the job.
1929 - Scientists at Bell Laboratories in New York revealed a system for transmitting television pictures.
1940 - Robert Pershing Wadlow was measured by Dr. Cyril MacBryde and Dr. C. M. Charles. They recorded his height at 8' 11.1." He was only 22 at the time of his death on July 15, 1940.
1955 - The first "Wide Wide World" was broadcast on NBC-TV.
1964 - Jan & Dean's "Little Old Lady From Pasadena" was released.
1966 - "Dark Shadows" began running on ABC-TV.
1967 - The world's first cash dispenser was installed at Barclays Bank in Enfield, England. The device was invented by John Sheppard-Barron. The machine operated on a voucher system and the maximum withdrawal was $28
1969 - Patrons at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City's Greenwich Village, clashed with police. This incident is considered to be the birth of the homosexual rights movement.
1985 - Route 66 was officially removed from the United States Highway System.
1989 - Tom Jones was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
1991 - Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall resigned from the U.S. Supreme Court. He had been appointed in 1967 by President Lyndon Johnson.
1998 - An English woman was impregnated with her dead husband's sperm after two-year legal battle over her right to the sperm.
2005 - In Alaska's Denali National Park, a roughly 70-million year old dinosaur track was discovered. The track was form a three-toed Cretaceous period dinosaur.
DAILY SQU-EEK
If You Were Born Today, June 27
You are a wonderful conversationalist and idea-person. You have a way with words, and others tend to appreciate your sense of fun. You are very able to make sacrifices for others, and sometimes do so to the detriment of your own progress. This is particularly true in your love life. You are highly creative. Possibly the most impressive of your many abilities is your empathic qualities that allow you to put yourself into virtually anyone's shoes and understand. Famous people born today:
1872 Paul Laurence Dunbar, American poet and novelist (Oak & Ivory), born in Dayton, Ohio (d. 1906)
1880 Helen Keller, American political activist, author (The Story of My Life) and lecturer, who was the 1st deaf-blind person to earn a BA, born in Tuscumbia, Alabama (d. 1968)
1959 Janusz Kamiński, Polish cinematographer (Schindler's List), born in Ziębice, Poland
1966 J. J. Abrams, American writer, producer and director (Lost, Star Wars: the Force Awakens), born in NYC, New York
1984 Khloé Kardashian, American reality television star (Keeping Up with the Kardashians), born in Los Angeles, California
READERS INFO
1.
(Not So) Totally Useless Fact of The Day:
Only about 18% of Americans can drive a stick shift.
2.
1969 -
Patrons at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City’s Greenwich Village, clashed with police. This incident is considered to be the birth of the gay rights movement.
3.
1693 - "The Ladies' Mercury" was published by John Dunton in London. It was the first women's magazine and contained a "question and answer" column that became known as a "problem page."
1967 - The world's first cash dispenser was installed at Barclays Bank in Enfield, England. The device was invented by John Sheppard-Barron. The machine operated on a voucher system and the maximum withdrawal was $28
1969 - Patrons at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City's Greenwich Village, clashed with police. This incident is considered to be the birth of the homosexual rights movement.
1985 - Route 66 was officially removed from the United States Highway System.
1991 - Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall resigned from the U.S. Supreme Court. He had been appointed in 1967 by President Lyndon Johnson.
1998 - An English woman was impregnated with her dead husband's sperm after two-year legal battle over her right to the sperm.
2005 - In Alaska's Denali National Park, a roughly 70-million year old dinosaur track was discovered. The track was form a three-toed Cretaceous period dinosaur.
DAILY SQU-EEK
Only about 18% of Americans can drive a stick shift.
Patrons at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City’s Greenwich Village, clashed with police. This incident is considered to be the birth of the gay rights movement.
3.
Cleveland History Days 2019
Jun 21 - 30, 2019 | Cleveland, OH
Cleveland’s history is America’s history. Predicted for greatness by George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. A city founded on the shores of Lake Erie. Shaped by a crooked Cuyahoga River that defined its identity and grew its wealth. A wealth fueled by the many immigrant groups that settled here.
Horn in the West 2019
Jun 21 - Aug 10, 2019 | Boone, NC
Horn in the West is our nation's longest-running Revolutionary War outdoor drama. The play brings to life the story of the hardy pioneers who, with the help of famed frontiersman, Daniel Boone, and Cherokee allies, settled in the Blue Ridge wilderness as they sought freedom from British tyranny.
further information: HORN IN THE WEST, Outdoor Drama
5.
5.
Boston Harborfest 2019
July 1 - 7, 2019 | Boston, MA
Positioned at various sites around the city, Boston Harborfest is a five-day Fourth of July Festival that highlights the colonial history of the Boston area. The fest commemorates the efforts of the American Revolution and surrounding battles by featuring reenactments and tours of the many historical sites. Guests are also provided with additional live entertainment in the form of a variety of concerts that are held throughout the event.
further information: Boston Harborfest
In the folklore, tanukis were known to be masters of illusion. They could shapeshift into any form of their liking - anything from an old bedridden woman to a bottle of white wine. Once in disguise, they would use little rhymes to lure people into their games, and although not harmful, they tended to end in some inconvenience or embarrassment.
The Nobel Prize in Physics is a yearly award given by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for those who have made the most outstanding contributions in the field of physics. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895 and awarded since 1901. The first Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to physicist Wilhelm Röntgen for the discovery of x-rays. The award is administered by the Nobel Foundation and widely regarded as the most prestigious award that a scientist can receive in physics. It is presented in Stockholm at an annual ceremony on 10 December, the anniversary of Nobel's death. Through 2018, a total of 209 individuals have been awarded the prize. This picture shows the diploma for the Nobel Prize in Physics awarded in December 1903 to Pierre and Marie Curie, as well as Henri Becquerel, whose name is mentioned on the second page of the document.
Patrick Commercy Transforms Building Facades Into
3D Works of Art
An amazing gallery of “trompe l’oeil” murals by French artist Patrick Commecy.
"Japan perceives the butterfly to be a ‘soul of the living and the dead’, as a result of the popular belief that spirits of the dead take the form of a butterfly when on their journey to the other world and eternal life. The butterfly is also often used as a symbol for young girls as they spread their wings and emerge into womanhood, as well as it being believed to symbolise joy and longevity."
knit
thanks, Emma
knit
thanks, Martha
knit
Rose Fairy Doll
knit
Golden Summer
knit, July 4th
A white feline hiding from the afternoon's sun behind the curtain of draping flowers.
According to Japanese legend, a landlord witnessed a cat waving a paw at him. Intrigued by this gesture, he came close to the cat when suddenly a lightning bolt struck the exact place he was previously standing in. The landlord believed that his good fortune was because of the cat’s actions. Hence, the beckoning hand became a symbol of good luck.
crochet
thanks, Mary
crochet
thanks, Ruth
crochet
crochet
A girl comes back home and uses a HUG card on her cat, but this non-exploding kitten combats the girl's futile attempt at physical contact with a NOPE card of his own. The Japanese have a daily expression 'tadaima' (ただいま) which is a shortened version of 'I just came home', and while usually it is polite to respond with 'okaeri' (おかえり) i.e. 'welcome home', this giant feline will have none of it.
RECIPE
Yet another tribute to the sound sleep on the clouds of fur. How did this girl get a fox inside the school?
CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, Debbie
Historically, cats have been revered in many societies, and particularly in the Japanese culture the furry felines are highly regarded as symbols of good luck. The popular Japanese cat figurine maneki-neko (招き猫, 'beckoning cat') is typically believed to bring about blessings. The figurine is often of a cat with its paw in an upright position as if beckoning.
SWEETS
thanks, Shelley
This black feline is a show off who likes to put his excellent abilities on display. 'You can't do that, human, can you?' - he says with a challenging look on his face, while making a perfect pyramid formation with a huge ball of cotton and a blue blob of a bird.
ADULT COLORING
"In Japanese mythology, grain farmers once worshiped wolves at shrines and left food offerings near their dens, beseeching them to protect their crops from wild boars and deer. Talismans and charms adorned with images of wolves were thought to protect against fire, disease, and other calamities and brought fertility to agrarian communities and to couples hoping to have children. The Ainu people believed that they were born from the union of a wolf like creature and a goddess." The Lost Wolves Of Japan (Brett L. Walker, 2005)
CRAFTS
thanks, Helen
If you slightly squint your eyes, you can notice that this is no ordinary hill, in fact, it's no hill at all.
CHILDREN'S CORNER ... crafts
thanks, Renee
This looks straight out of a science-fiction movie where the main protagonist is a stray cat looking for a place to call home. For months, locals have tried to lure the kitten out of his hiding place promising toys and treats. 'Look, this ain't a laser pointer, but at least it's shiny.'
PUZZLE
The fox plays a role in Japanese culture that's unusually rich and complicated. Beliefs that developed when people lived much closer to nature persist in stories, festivals, and language. Even in these rational times, the fox has a magical aura that still lingers. The fox is associated with Inari as a symbol, a messenger, a servant, or maybe more. Inari is the Japanese god of foxes, of fertility, rice, tea and sake, of agriculture and industry, of general prosperity and worldly success, and one of the principal gods of Shinto.
WORD SEARCH
A peaceful autumn afternoon at the shrine saturated with both color and falling leaves. Although it might be hard to tell, the animal depicted in this particular illustration is not your regular raccoon. In fact, this is Tanuki (or a raccoon dog), an atypical species of dog that can grow up to 60 cm in length, with distinctive stripes of black fur under its eyes. Unlike a raccoon, tanuki has a roundish nose, small floppy ears, short and furred paws for running, and a tail that is not ringed. Originally an evil trickster and spook in Japanese folklore, Tanuki is now a benevolent modern-day symbol of generosity, cheer and prosperity.
SUDOKU ... very hard
solution:
A world where you can surrender yourself to sleep on a giant ball of fur is a world where you wouldn't be able to get any work done. A perfect world.
QUOTE
A surreal image featuring a reoccurring protagonist - the blue blob. We can't decide what we love about this picture the post - the scattering sakura blossoms, or the fact that this cat sports a pair of magnificent blue horns.
A tranquil and slightly gloomy part of the series featuring a Korean crow-tit (Baepsae). There is a common idiom/saying: 'the crow tit will break its legs trying to walk like a stork', which, in its simplest form, means pretending to be something you are not.
CLEVER
SPRUCE UP CHOPPING BOARDS
Lemon juice is a natural bleaching agent, and will take on even tough, tomato-based stains. Rub a stained chopping board with half a lemon or a cloth soaked in juice, leave it overnight, then wash as normal.
Yet another beautiful composition featuring familiar elements - the cat, the girl, and the soft sunlight streaming through the window.
EYE OPENER
thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
The idealists and visionaries, foolish enough to throw caution to the winds and express their ardor and faith in some supreme deed, have advanced mankind and have enriched the world. -Emma Goldman, social activist (27 Jun 1869-1940) 
thanks for the post
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