Magic Day - October 31, 2019

DIANE'S CORNER ... Celebrate Magic Day

Magic Day started with a “Houdini Day”, the first of which took place in the summer of 1927, less than one year after the famous magician’s death. His wife presented a trophy in honour of him on that day.

Harry Houdini is quite probably one of the reasons magic is so popular today and at the time of his death he was the most famous member of the Society of American Magicians. Houdini died at 1:26pm on October 31st, 1926.

Houdini is most famous for his escape artistry, varying from escaping from chains, ropes, handcuffs and straightjackets while dangling in the air above his audience, to escaping from a locked milk can, filled with water. He went so far as to challenge police in every city he visited to restrain him in their jails and handcuffs – more often than not he was strip-searched first.

thanks, Patty

Joke of the Day

Q: What do you call a witch’s garage?

A: A broom closet.

Word of the Day

Red Queen hypothesis

Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen in the 2016 film Alice Through the Looking Glass

MEANING:

noun: The hypothesis that organisms must constantly adapt and evolve in order to survive in an evolutionary arms race.

ETYMOLOGY:

Proposed by the biologist Leigh Van Valen (1935-2010). Earliest documented use: 1973.

NOTES:

In Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass the Red Queen tells Alice: “Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place.”
Evolutionary biologist Leigh Van Valen used that as a metaphor to describe how competing species must keep up with one another. For example, in a predator and prey relationship, if the prey evolves to run faster, the predator must keep up or go extinct.

USAGE:

“The Red Queen hypothesis -- adapt or die -- offers a particularly dour outlook for those who measure their pulse online. Alice never gains any Instagram followers. Her extinction is internet invisibility.”
Kaitlin Phillips; In This Tale of Online Intimacy, the Only Wise Characters Are Luddites; The New York Times; Apr 13, 2017.

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

Idiom of the Day

GET OVER SOMETHING

To overcome or move on from a difficult situation
Moving out of the city for a while might help you get over Harry. (This could be the breakup of a personal relationship/marriage, or the person’s death)

This Day in History

1517 - Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Palace Church. The event marked the start of the Protestant Reformation in Germany.

1860 - Juliette Low, the founder off the Girl Scouts, was born.


1864 - Nevada became the 36th state to join the U.S.


1926 - Magician Harry Houdini died of gangrene and peritonitis resulting from a ruptured appendix. His appendix had been damaged twelve days earlier when he had been punched in the stomach by a student unexpectedly. During a lecture Houdini had commented on the strength of his stomach muscles and their ability to withstand hard blows.


1941 - Mount Rushmore was declared complete after 14 years of work. At the time the 60-foot busts of U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln were finished.


1956 - Rear Admiral G.J. Dufek became the first person to land an airplane at the South Pole. Dufek also became the first person to set foot on the South Pole.


1985 - Producer Joseph Papp died of cancer at the age of 70. He was the co-creator of "A Chorus Line."


2008 - Distribution Video Audio, Inc. shipped its final shipment of VHS tapes to stores. The company was the last major United States supplier of pre-recorded VHS tapes.



DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, October 31

You are a dependable person who can also be spontaneous and unique while steady and reliable overall. Some people might call you hard-headed! You can stick to something (or someone) longer than most people, and your ability to read between the lines is outstanding. People generally admire your conviction and your wit, and you inspire trust in others due to your "no-nonsense" approach to life. Family-oriented and committed, you are also typically quite organized. Famous people born today:

1632 Jan Vermeer [Johannes Vermeer], Dutch painter (Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Astronomer), born in Delft, Netherlands (d. 1675)

1795 John Keats, English Romantic poet (Ode to a Grecian Urn), born in London (d. 1821)

1860 Juliette Gordon Low, American activist and founder of the Girl Scouts of America, born in Savannah, Georgia (d. 1927)

1933 Hobart "Hobie" Alter, American surf and sailing entrepreneur and pioneer who created the Hobie Cat, born in Ontario, California (d. 2014)

1950 John Candy, Canadian actor and comedian (SCTV, Uncle Buck), born in Newmarket, Ontario (d. 1994)

1961 Peter Jackson, New Zealand film director (Lord of the Rings - Academy Award, Best Director, 2003), born in Wellington, New Zealand

1967 Vanilla Ice, American rapper (Ice Ice Baby) and actor (Cool as Ice), born in Miami, Florida

READERS INFO

1.

(Not So) Totally Useless Facts of The Day:

“Psycho” is the 1960 Alfred Hitchcock classic film that features a very popular and well known murder scene. The shower murder of Janet Leigh’s character features blood trickling down a shower drain. But was it blood or was it chocolate? The answer is chocolate syrup.

A cosmic year is the amount of time it takes for the sun to orbit once around the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. One cosmic year is equal to 225-250 million years.

Hollywood starlet Hedy Lamarr is often called the “mother of Wi-Fi.” She helped invent a version of the frequency-hopping system that led to the creation of GPS, Bluetooth, and wireless internet.
Link to some interesting facts about her.

2.

OCT 31 -

thanks Patty

3.

Los Angeles Fall Fair 2019

Oct 25 - Nov 3, 2019 | South El Monte, CA

La Prada Event Plaza|1600 Rosemead Blvd

Unlimited Carnival Rides. 25 Adult and Kids Rides - Free Parking! All carnival rides, circus attraction and concerts in the park are FREE with admission. Admission is ONLY $15 per person. Children under 36" are FREE! 

further information: LA Fall Fair - Oct. 25-Nov. 3, 2019

4.

Day of the Dead Poets Slam 2019

Nov 2, 2019 | Rochester, MN 

Dia de los Muertos and poetry slamming come together to form the Day of the Dead Poets Slam in Rochester, Minnesota. It honors the late, great poets through the power of words and of course, some great costumes. The powerful performers go head to head in a competition for prizes and glory. You can find tradition Day of the Dead decor including altars, papel picado, sugar skulls and more.

further information: Day of the Dead Poets Slam

5.

YWCA Yuletide Luncheon & Market 2019

Nov 8, 2019 Dates Unconfirmed | Corpus Christi, TX 

Solomon P. Ortiz International Center |402 Harbor Dr

Are you a woman and/or someone who believes in the equal treatment of women? The YWCA goes beyond the Spice Girls’ social phenomenon of the 1990’s to make equality attainable today. The Yuletide Luncheon & Market packs tasty food, empowering guest speakers, a silent auction and tons of vendors selling great gifts. Every dollar benefits the YWTeens program and an assortment of other programs.

further information: Yuletide Luncheon & Market

Pictures of the day

Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent horror film written, directed, photographed and edited by George Romero, co-written by John Russo, and starring Duane Jones and Judith O'Dea. The story follows seven people who are trapped in a rural farmhouse in Western Pennsylvania, which is besieged by a large and growing group of "living dead". The 96-minute film was completed on a $114,000 budget (equivalent to $821,000 in 2018) and shot outside Pittsburgh, where it had its theatrical premiere on October 1, 1968. It grossed $12 million domestically ($86 million, 2018) and $18 million internationally ($130 million, 2018). Despite being heavily criticized upon its release for its explicit gore, the film eventually garnered critical acclaim and was selected in 1999 by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry. Night of the Living Dead led to five subsequent films between 1978 and 2009, also directed by Romero, and inspired several remakes.

Warning night light (USA) 

One evening, along the riverbed of the Myakka River State Park in Sarasota, Florida, USA, there is a group of alligators. It was the dry season, and they had been gorging on fish trapped in the pools left behind as the water receded from the river. One big alligator had clearly eaten its fill.  Like cats, an alligator has a tapetum lucidum at the back of each eye a structure that reflects light back into the photoreceptor cells to make the most of low light. The color of eyeshine differs from species to species. In alligators, it glows red one good way to locate alligators on a dark night. The greater the distance between its eyes, the longer the reptile, in this case, very long.

knit
thanks, Sheri 

Ana

knit
thanks, Marcy

KINDNESS : Vest

knit

Mice Socks

knit

Tried and True Pillow

knit

Afghan Knitalong Square 6 - Slip Step

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Knit Pattern of the Day: 

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

The Downtown Cardigan

thanks, Helen

Ray Villafane is an artist from Queens, New York, who has garnered international acclaim and a cult-like following for his jaw-dropping pumpkin carvings. His carvings have even been displayed in the President's quarters at the White House.

crochet
thanks, Violet

White Dress

crochet
thanks, Mary

Angelica Cardigan

crochet

Crochet Animal Trio

crochet

Moroccan Tile Afghan and Pillow

crochet ... Halloween

Crafty Disguise Pattern

RECIPE

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

Smashed Potatoes With Bacon, Cheese and Greens Recipe

CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, Jane

Chicken Enchilada pie made in slow cooker

SWEETS ... Halloween

thanks, Sandy

Dracula Dentures Are A Halloween Party MUST

ADULT COLORING

CRAFTS ... Halloween

thanks, Zoey

1-minute fall decorating! Make Easy Pumpkin Place Cards...

CHILDREN'S CORNER ... Halloween

thanks, Sonja

Peanut Butter Popcorn Cake

PUZZLE

Harness Buckle Three Jigsaw Puzzle



WORD SEARCH

SUDOKU ... very hard

solution:

QUOTE

thanks, Dana

CLEVER 

Roasting Pumpkin Seeds Is 100% More Fun Than Dressing Up Like A Cat

The only thing better than a good recipe? When something's so easy to make that you don't even need one. 
I’m not big on apple-picking or cider donuts, but I can’t let October pass by without carving at least one pumpkin. And while my jack o’ lanterns are never as spooky as expected, my roasted pumpkin seeds are reliably delicious—and super easy to make at home. I’ve even been known to host pumpkin carving parties to double my yield (so when I invite you over, well, that’s why). Here’s how to do it at home.

Step 1: Select your pumpkin. I've found that the bigger the pumpkin, the bigger (and tougher) the seeds. Because I’d prefer not to spend my evening chewing pumpkin seeds, I opt for a medium-sized pumpkin. You do you.

Step 2: Carve your pumpkin. Okay, you’ve probably done this before, but here’s a quick refresher: Use a sharp knife to cut around the pumpkin stem, pull off the top, and scoop out the insides (a serving spoon does a good job, as does an ice cream scoop). If you’re intimidated by the sticky-slimy pumpkin guts, channel the bravery of your second grade self who held an eyeball (okay, a peeled grape) at a haunted house and dive in. Use a fork to scrape the sides and dislodge any stubborn strands, then use your fingertips to pinch the seeds off the pulp and put them in a bowl.
Step 3: Prep the seeds. I know you want to start working on that jack o’ lantern, but maximize your time and do this first. Fill the bowl with water and swirl around the seeds, using your fingers to remove any stuck-on pieces of pulp. Then use a slotted spoon to skim the seeds off the top, and place on a clean kitchen towel to dry out for about an hour. It's worth the wait: Allowing the seeds to dry first ensures they’ll crisp—not steam—in the oven, allowing for maximum crunch. Carve your pumpkin while you wait!
Step 4: Season the seeds. Preheat your oven to 325° F with a rack in the middle. Add your dry pumpkin seeds to a rimmed baking sheet, then toss with a few tablespoons of olive oil, a pinch of kosher salt, and two teaspoons of your preferred spices. I usually opt for a smoky mix of cayenne pepper and paprika, but do what feels right. Smoked paprika, za’atar, and even cinnamon all work great. Use your hands and really get in there to make sure each seed is evenly coated.
Step 5: Roast! You want toasty, golden brown pumpkin seeds, which should take around 20 minutes. Give them a shake halfway through to assess the browning and ensure an even bake. If your seeds are large or not fully dry, this will take a little longer, so keep an eye on things and stay patient. For slightly cheesy pumpkin seeds, immediately them toss with a drizzle of olive oil and a few shakes of nutritional yeast once they’re out of the oven.
Step 6: Munch
I love to use roasted pumpkin seeds to top hearty fall salads and creamy, coconutty squash soups.

But if we’re being honest, I usually just eat them by the handful. It’s a seasonally festive, deliciously salty snack—and just the thing to balance out a few (okay, five) Reese's peanut butter cups on Halloween.

EYE OPENER 

VINTAGE CORNER

Cute Kewpies

Question: The cupid character on this old blue porcelain bath set is just darling. Both the pieces are in good condition, with a little wearing of the gold accents. The mark on the back reads, "Austria, Princess Louise" with a crown. How old is this set, and what would be its current value? Were other types of products made with the same whimsical cupid design?
Answer: American illustrator Rose O'Neill conceived Kewpies as comic strip characters that resembled cupids. The comic strip was first published in the December 1909 issue of Ladies' Home Journal. Small bisque Kewpie dolls were produced in Germany beginning in 1912, and they became an international sensation. The charming Kewpie image quickly spread to dolls, tableware, lamps, candlesticks, inkwells, clocks, jewelry boxes, hat pins, salt and pepper shakers, picture frames and many other items. Wehinger & Company, a china manufacturer, used the Austria, Princess Louise crown mark on its wares from 1910 to 1918. Your dish and powder jar together have a value of $75 to $125.

Stretching Socks

Question: I love the shape and visual appeal of old wooden sock stretchers. Can you tell me more about them, such as when they were used and the purpose of the holes? This particular stretcher is unmarked; would a mark make it more valuable?
Answer: In days past, Monday was washday and Tuesday was ironing day. These wood stretchers were used in home laundries in the 19th century and well into the 1900s to prevent wool hosiery from shrinking after being washed. Most examples have circular holes through them to facilitate air circulation. Some were marked with a maker's name and a numeral indicating a size; although marks make stretchers easier to identify, they don't add to the value. Wire stocking-form stretchers began replacing their wood counterparts in the 1900s. The introduction of nylon-blend socks after World War II made stocking stretchers obsolete. Those that have survived three-quarters of a century of non-use are touted as primitive decorations for the kitchen or laundry room. Matched pairs are readily available and usually priced $25 to $50 on internet sites.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

There is a budding morrow in midnight. -John Keats, poet (31 Oct 1795-1821)

OPTICAL ILLUSION

Small grey dots should appear at the intersections of the squares,

but if you look directly at the intersection, the grey dots will disappear.

Sunday

, 

November 3 - Dont forget!