DIANE'S CORNER ...
Celebrate Stepfamily Day
Things have changed a lot in the past decades, where once marriage was a life-long institution and divorce practically unheard of, now more than half of all marriages end in divorce. This isn’t as bad a thing as it sounds, as many of those ‘lifelong marriages’ were held together in spite of internal abuse, general unhappiness, and worse due to societal pressures. Regardless of your opinion on divorce and marriage, something good has come from this new paradigm, and that’s the stepfamily. Stepfamily Day recognizes all those who live in blended families.
History of Stepfamily Day
Being part of a stepfamily can be really challenging, you’re coming into a place with people that weren’t part of your family before, and suddenly they’re uncles, sisters, brothers, even parents to you. How confusing must it be for people who yesterday weren’t related at all to suddenly be considered your siblings? That being said, growing up with a Stepfamily can be really rewarding, especially when everybody works together to overcome the challenges and create an amazing blended family.
To make things even more difficult, if you’re part of a Stepfamily, it almost certainly means that you’ve recently had to deal with going through a divorce. This brings up all sorts of challenges, jealousy amongst siblings and birth parents, and the hostilities that doubtless led to the end of the previous marriage.
These certainly aren’t part of everyone’s experience, and in fact they don’t have to be the experience that you have. Stepfamilies come together every day that are strong and act like an extended family rather than a divided one. Stepfamily Day is dedicated to appreciating those who have joined your family, and educating yourself on the challenges you face so you can overcome them together.
thanks for the pics, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent
Joke of the Day
WHICH ICE CREAM CONE?
John left his twin twelve year old boys in the car while he went into a store. While there he spotted a vender selling ice cream cones. He bought one chocolate and one vanilla for the boys.
When he got back to the car he asked them which one they wanted. The boys looked at the ice cream cones for a few seconds trying to decide.
A sly grin came across one boy's face. He pointed to his brother and said, "I want his!"
When he got back to the car he asked them which one they wanted. The boys looked at the ice cream cones for a few seconds trying to decide.
A sly grin came across one boy's face. He pointed to his brother and said, "I want his!"
Word of the Day
dotard
MEANING:
noun: One whose mental faculties have deteriorated, especially due to old age.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Middle English doten (to be foolish). Earliest documented use: 1393.
USAGE:
“Years ago, when my daughter was in elementary school, there was an election for student council or something, and one of the candidates promised longer recess if he were elected.
“Naturally, he won, proving that ‘longer recess’ is the childhood equivalent of ‘Mexico will pay for it.’ When it comes to elections, some voters will hear what they want to hear, even if deep down they know you are lying or exaggerating or being a delusional dotard.”
Greg Jayne; Climate Change May Hoist Inslee; Columbian (Vancouver, Washington); Apr 14, 2019.
“Leonato: I speak not like a dotard nor a fool,
As, under privilege of age, to brag
What I have done being young, or what would do
Were I not old.”
William Shakespeare; Much Ado About Nothing; 1623.
“Naturally, he won, proving that ‘longer recess’ is the childhood equivalent of ‘Mexico will pay for it.’ When it comes to elections, some voters will hear what they want to hear, even if deep down they know you are lying or exaggerating or being a delusional dotard.”
Greg Jayne; Climate Change May Hoist Inslee; Columbian (Vancouver, Washington); Apr 14, 2019.
“Leonato: I speak not like a dotard nor a fool,
As, under privilege of age, to brag
What I have done being young, or what would do
Were I not old.”
William Shakespeare; Much Ado About Nothing; 1623.
Idiom of the Day
COST A BOMB
When something is very expensive
That Italian meal cost a bomb! We won’t be going back there, unless we win the lottery!
That Italian meal cost a bomb! We won’t be going back there, unless we win the lottery!
This Day in History
1400 - Owain Glyndwr was proclaimed Prince of Wales after rebelling against English rule. He was the last Welsh-born Prince of Wales.
1620 - The Mayflower departed from Plymouth, England. The ship arrived at Provincetown, MA, on November 21st and then at Plymouth, MA, on December 26th. There were 102 passengers onboard.
1630 - The village of Shawmut changed its name to Boston.
1782 - The Great Seal of the United States was impressed on document to negotiate a prisoner of war agreement with the British. It was the first official use of the impression.
1908 - General Motors was founded by William Crapo "Billy" Durant. The company was formed by merging the Buick and Olds car companies.
1920 - Enrico Caruso recorded his last work for Victor Records.
1953 - "The Robe" premiered at the Roxy Theater in New York. It was the first movie filmed in the wide screen CinemaScope process.
1953 - The St. Louis Browns of the American League were given permission to move to Baltimore, MD, where they became the Baltimore Orioles.
1963 - "The Outer Limits" premiered on ABC-TV.
1965 - The Grace Cathedral in San Francisco was the site of Duke Ellington's first concert.
1966 - The Metropolitan Opera opened its new opera house at New York's Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The opening performance was Samuel Barber's "Antony and Cleopatra."
1968 - "The Andy Griffith Show" was seen for the final time on CBS.
1972 - "The Bob Newhart Show" premiered on CBS-TV.
1976 - The Episcopal Church formally approved women to be ordained as priests and bishops.
1998 - Meryl Streep received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
thanks, Joan
DAILY SQU-EEK
If You Were Born Today, September 16
You have a great facility with words–for good or for bad! While you can be highly entertaining and witty, sometimes your words bite, and you may come across as too opinionated. However, you are exceptionally kind and helpful to people you love. Security is extremely important to you, and you resist change as a result, preferring the tried and true. You are at once determined and emotional, so that there is a distinct tough side to your nature, yet a deeper, more sensitive and intuitive side as well. You love to learn, and will constantly seek out experiences that add to your knowledge throughout your life. Famous people born today:
1822 Charles Crocker, American business tycoon and railroad executive (Central Pacific Railroad, Southern Pacific Railroad), born in Troy, New York (d. 1888)
1875 James Cash Penney, American department store founder (J C Penney), born in Hamilton, Missouri (d. 1971)
1925 [Riley B.] B.B. King, American blues guitarist and singer (The Thrill is Gone), born in Itta Bena, Mississippi (d. 2015)
1956 David Copperfield [Kotkin], American magician, born in Metuchen, New Jersey
1971 Amy Poehler, American comedian and actress (Saturday Night Live, Parks and Recreation), born in Newton, Massachusetts
1992 Nick Jonas, American singer, actor and producer (The Jonas Brothers), born in Dallas, Texas
thanks, Beth
READERS INFO
1.
(Not So) Totally Useless Facts of The Day:
Planes and Lightning Strikes
When was the last time you heard of a lightning strike being the direct cause of an airplane crashing? The answer is approximately 1967. Why is that? Improved technology and engineering. Airplanes are now constructed in a manner that allow the lightning to go through the outside (frame) of the plane and then out without causing damage.
Despite the optical illusion, the Gateway Arch is exactly as wide (630 feet) as it is tall.
Dow Jones Original
The Dow Jones Industrial first started in 1896. There were only 12 companies on the original index. Some companies were dropped, some dissolved, some were bought out. Of those 12 original companies, only remains to this day on the board… General Electric.
2.
1940
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Selective Service and Training Act, or military draft. It was the first military draft created during peacetime in United States history. The act required all male citizens and male aliens residing in the United States who were 21 to 35 years old to sign up for the military draft. Registration for the draft began on Oct. 16, 1940. Individuals selected for military service served for 12 months, with the first men selected beginning their service on Nov. 18. The time of service was later extended to 18 months by the Service Extension Act of 1941.
Although the United States had not yet entered World War II when the draft began, President Roosevelt was concerned about the country's military preparedness. When the draft was passed by Congress and signed by the president, there was already a growing threat of war. Germany had already invaded several European countries including: Poland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands. In July 1940, Germany began bombing Great Britain's ports and airfields. Germany also began its blitzkrieg attacks on Great Britain shortly before the United States passed the peacetime draft.
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, the United States officially entered World War II. The draft was then amended so that all men between the age of 20 and 44 were subject to possible military service, and it required all men who were ages 18 to 64 to register for the draft. Millions of men and women also volunteered for military service after the U.S. entered World War II. More than 10 million men were inducted into the services over the span of the World War II era. The World War II draft ended in 1947, when its legislative authority expired without further extension by Congress.
3.
1400 - Owain Glyndwr was proclaimed Prince of Wales after rebelling against English rule. He was the last Welsh-born Prince of Wales.
thanks, Beth
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Selective Service and Training Act, or military draft. It was the first military draft created during peacetime in United States history. The act required all male citizens and male aliens residing in the United States who were 21 to 35 years old to sign up for the military draft. Registration for the draft began on Oct. 16, 1940. Individuals selected for military service served for 12 months, with the first men selected beginning their service on Nov. 18. The time of service was later extended to 18 months by the Service Extension Act of 1941.
Although the United States had not yet entered World War II when the draft began, President Roosevelt was concerned about the country's military preparedness. When the draft was passed by Congress and signed by the president, there was already a growing threat of war. Germany had already invaded several European countries including: Poland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands. In July 1940, Germany began bombing Great Britain's ports and airfields. Germany also began its blitzkrieg attacks on Great Britain shortly before the United States passed the peacetime draft.
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, the United States officially entered World War II. The draft was then amended so that all men between the age of 20 and 44 were subject to possible military service, and it required all men who were ages 18 to 64 to register for the draft. Millions of men and women also volunteered for military service after the U.S. entered World War II. More than 10 million men were inducted into the services over the span of the World War II era. The World War II draft ended in 1947, when its legislative authority expired without further extension by Congress.
Ballarat International Foto Biennale 2019
Aug 24 - Oct 20, 2019 | Ballarat, VIC
This is the only photographic biennale in Australia that attracts a huge number of elite and new photographers from different countries
further information: Ballarat
4.
Art + Flea 2019
Sep 29, 2019 | Honolulu, HI
South Shore Market|1170 Auahi St
Art + Flea in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a one-of-a-kind urban shopping experience that takes place once a month and showcases Hawaii’s talented homegrown artists and crafters. The one-day extravaganza rotates themes every month and features over 60 local independent fashion designers, visual artists, buzzworthy musical acts, popular food trucks, DJs and an assortment of contests.
further information: Art + Flea
Pictures of the day
Pictures of the day
Atractomorpha is a genus of grasshopper in the family Pyrgomorphidae, found in Africa, Asia and Australia. The genus name is derived from Greek and means 'spindle-shaped' or 'arrow-shaped', referring to the cone-shaped head found in individuals of the genus. Atractomorpha are active during the day, and their usual habitat is reeds and grasses close to rivers or streams. This picture shows a grasshopper of the species A. crenulata, commonly known as the tobacco grasshopper, which has a distribution from South Asia to Vietnam.
Chenzhou, China
Participants perform on a river during a showcase at a tourism resort. knit
thanks, Amber
thanks, Rae
knit
knit
Crochet Pattern of the Day:
crochet
crochet
Row Count X
RECIPE
Sour Cream and Onion Potato Salad Recipe
CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent
SWEETS
ADULT COLORING
CRAFTS ... Halloween
thanks, Ellie
CHILDREN'S CORNER ... crafts
thanks, Bella
PUZZLE
| affect again devil dies doors expenses | flank focus force fresh goes happy intent interchange | little mime nominate number power quality quick quite | requirement roofs shark smooth solid spoil strap support | tangle there think touch wheat |
SUDOKU ... hard
solution:
QUOTE
CLEVER
Low-Fat Dog Treats
To really get the most out of your reading and reading reflection, there are a few other add-on tricks you can try. You might want to
Is your dog getting a little chubby? Try replacing his/her high-calorie treats with plain rice cakes. Even if you think they’re tasteless, dogs go nuts over them and vets often suggest them as a lower fat (and less expensive) substitute for regular dog treats.
EYE OPENER
Science Says This Is the Simplest Way to Remember More of What You Read
Hit pause. Reflect on the content. Excel. Repeat.
Whether it's Facebook content, Bill Gates' favorite book, or the latest critical business report, most of us enjoy reading or have to do quite a bit of it through the day. But in the rush to do everything in less time, you might be missing a crazily simple way to commit more content to memory:
Just go back and give yourself a little time to reflect on what you just read.
Now, when I say "reflect," I don't mean sit there pondering for an hour. I mean sitting just long enough to
- Mentally identify the main points or concepts
- Jot down some notes (you can't write everything, so this forces your brain to choose what's most important)
- Consider the ramifications or implications of the content
- Think about how the content connects to your personal preferences, personality, and experiences
Why it works.
As Allison Preston, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Texas at Austin, explains in this 2014 research study release,
We think replaying memories during rest makes those earlier memories stronger, not just impacting the original content, but impacting the memories to come. [...] Nothing happens in isolation. When you are learning something new, you bring to mind all of the things you know that are related to that information. In doing so, you embed the new information into your existing knowledge.
With this in mind, when you give yourself a few minutes to rest and think about what you just ingested from the page, you're allowing your brain to better connect the new information to what you've already done or understand. And because the brain is wired to respond to emotions quickly and efficiently, connecting them to memory formation and the interpretation of facts and rational thought, if you can allow yourself to really acknowledge and respond to what you feel during your reading reflections, you stand a better chance of the new memories being more powerful and easier to retrieve.
The myth of lost time.
I can hear you protesting from here.
"I barely have time to use the restroom! How am I supposed to take time to reflect on what I read?"
I get it. But when you can remember information from your content better, you actually can end up saving time. You don't have to go back and look up as many facts or ideas, and whether it's rubbing elbows with some big shots at a conference or explaining your rationale for a new process to your team, you can apply the information on the fly better. From this standpoint, reading reflection is an efficiency booster and worth the few brief minutes it takes.
More ways to level up.
To really get the most out of your reading and reading reflection, there are a few other add-on tricks you can try. You might want to
- Read some of the content aloud or draw images for the main ideas. The brain doesn't process the different types of sensory information in isolation from each other, so honing in on auditory or visual information might help you process the content.
- Read when you are more rested. Fatigue can negatively influence your ability to focus, so pick a reading time where you feel energized.
- Eliminate distractions. While turning off phone alerts or shutting your door are obvious distraction points, don't forget about other factors, such as room temperature, hunger, and your position in your chair.
- Be clear about your goal. Knowing the purpose behind what you're reading can make it easier to feel motivated and engaged with the content.
- Go for a hard copy. Researchers from the University of Oregon found that online content is harder to recall. One theory is that the disappear-reappear nature of online content is distracting, but the loss of tactile information, such as the feeling of the page, might contribute, too.
No matter how long your reflection time might happen to last, just read. Read anything. It's by far one of the easiest things you can do to boost your intelligence and stay on top of your game.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
The man who is always waving the flag usually waives what it stands for. -Laurence J. Peter, educator and author (16 Sep 1919-1990)
OPTICAL ILLUSION
Are the points marked with A and B in front, or in back? There are no depth cues, so its impossible to tell.
As a result, the image becomes unstable and may appear to flip from front to back as you continue to look at it.
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