DIANE'S CORNER ...
Celebrate Reptile Awareness Day
Reptiles are everywhere, and serve an important role in the ecosystem of whatever biome they’re a part of. Reactions to them range from abject terror to an acute fascination with them, unsurprising given that Hollywood has a tendency to lean towards the Monstrous when displaying these otherwise magnificent creatures. The truth of the matter is that reptiles are a vital part of a healthy environment, with common snakes helping to keep down bugs and rodents that would love to make a nest in your home. Reptile Awareness Day is an excellent opportunity to educate yourself on the wonders of the scaly world, and perhaps learn an appreciation for them.
History of Reptile Awareness Day
Reptile Awareness Day was created by a group of reptile enthusiasts intent on changing the public image of their beloved scaly friends. Since then R.A.D. has been a popular event for the herpetologically inclined to gather and share their love of the cold-blooded critters that share their lives. From the magnificent Bearded Dragon, playful Gecko’s, Turtles, and the huge but cuddly Forest Boa, reptiles are increasingly popular pets the world round.
Even Zoos get in on the action, using these days to promote awareness of their alligator and crocodile exhibits, and helping to alert the world to the plight of endangered reptiles like the Leatherback Sea Turtles. For reasons from human predation of their eggs to destruction of their habitats, there are many of the world’s reptiles who are nearing extinction. Reptile Awareness Day is a great opportunity to help educate people on how to protect them.
Joke of the Day
OLD WEST REVENGE
A three-legged dog walks into a saloon in the Old West.
He slides up to the bar and announces, ''I'm looking for the man who shot my paw!''
He slides up to the bar and announces, ''I'm looking for the man who shot my paw!''
Word of the Day
agerasia
MEANING:
noun: Not growing old, or looking younger than one’s age.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin agerasia, from Greek agerasia, from geras (old age), which also gave us gerontology. Earliest documented use: 1706.
NOTES:
Do people tell you you look ten years younger than you really are? There’s chronological age, determined by when you were born, totally out of your control. Then there’s biological age (calculate it), which is how well you have aged, and it is quite likely up to you.
If you have ever wanted a word to describe that youthful look you have maintained from regular exercise, healthful eating, and conscientious living, your wish is granted. As for actually not growing old, you ask too much.
If you have ever wanted a word to describe that youthful look you have maintained from regular exercise, healthful eating, and conscientious living, your wish is granted. As for actually not growing old, you ask too much.
USAGE:
“Nahla Syrup stood and smiled warmly. She looked like Desdemona and not a whole lot older, though I attributed her agerasia to flawless skin, bright eyes, and the SpongeBob earrings that dangled from her ears.”
Daphne Uviller; Wife of the Day; Brownstone Books; 2016.
Daphne Uviller; Wife of the Day; Brownstone Books; 2016.
Idiom of the Day
FINGER IN EVERY PIE
To be involved or have influence in many things (often has a negative association)
Person A: “Steve offered to sell me some secondhand TVs and holiday to Spain!”Person B: “That guy’s got a finger in every pie!”
Person A: “Steve offered to sell me some secondhand TVs and holiday to Spain!”Person B: “That guy’s got a finger in every pie!”
This Day in History
1797 - "Old Ironsides," the U.S. Navy frigate Constitution, was launched in Boston's harbor.
1849 - The first tattooed man, James F. O辰onnell, was put on exhibition at the Franklin Theatre in New York City, NY.
1858 - The Can-Can was performed for the first time in Paris.
1908 - A "Saturday Evening Post" advertisement offered a chance to buy a two-sided record from Columbia.
1918 - Margaret Owen set a typing speed record of 170 words per minute on a manual typewriter.
1927 - In New York City, construction began on the George Washington Bridge.
1945 - Women in France were allowed to vote for the first time.
1959 - The Guggenheim Museum was opened to the public in New York. The building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
1964 - The movie musical "My Fair Lady" made its world premier in New York.
1975 - Elton John received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1991 - Jesse Turner, an American hostage in Lebanon, was released after nearly five years of being imprisoned.
1992 - The erotic photograph book, "Sex," was released by Madonna. The first run of 500,000 copies sold out.
1998 - Cancer specialist Dr. Jane Henney became the FDA's first female commissioner.
thanks, Michelle
1797 - "Old Ironsides," the U.S. Navy frigate Constitution, was launched in Boston's harbor.
DAILY SQU-EEK
If You Were Born Today, October 21
You are progressive and possess much dynamism and enthusiasm. Your life is characterized by emotional ups and downs, and you are a sensitive person who picks up much--perhaps too much--from your environment. At times you feel overloaded, but your will is strong and you are extremely resilient. In fact, you can be greatly stubborn at times! Highly magnetic, your communication skills are notable. You could be a natural teacher. Famous people born today:
1833 Alfred Nobel, Swedish chemist who invented dynamite and founded the Nobel Prizes, born in Stockholm, Sweden (d. 1896)
1928 Whitey Ford [Edward Charles Ford], American hall of fame baseball pitcher (NY Yankees), born in NYC
1942 Judith Sheindlin, Jurist and Television personality (Judge Judy), born in Brooklyn, New York
1949 Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister, born in Tel Aviv, Israel
1956 Carrie Fisher, American actress (Princess Leia in Star Wars, When Harry Met Sally...) and writer (Postcards from the Edge), born in Beverly Hills, California (d. 2016)
1980 Kim [Kimberly] Kardashian, American TV personality (Keeping Up with the Kardashians), born in Los Angeles, California
READERS INFO
1.
(Not So) Totally Useless Facts of The Day:
Abibliophobia is the fear of running out of reading material.
Oldest University
Where is the oldest college or university in North America? The answer is Mexico City, Mexico. Founded in 1551 by the royal decree of Charles I of Spain, the University of Mexico (then known as the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico) is the oldest university in North America.
Before he wrote Goosebumps, R.L. Stine wrote the jokes for Bazooka Joe gum wrappers.
2.
CELESTIAL EVENT - October 21, 22
Orionids Meteor Shower.
The Orionids is an average shower producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Halley, which has been known and observed since ancient times. The shower runs annually from October 2 to November 7. It peaks this year on the night of October 21 and the morning of October 22. The second quarter moon will block some of the fainter meteors this year, but the Orionids tend to be fairly bright so it could still be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Orion, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
3.
Before he wrote Goosebumps, R.L. Stine wrote the jokes for Bazooka Joe gum wrappers.
Salem Open Market 2019
Sep 30 - Oct 29, 2019 | Salem, MA
Salem, Massachusetts, is where Jack Skellington would live if Halloweentown ceased to exist. The Salem Open Market features dozens of vendors that have handmade arts and crafts. These spooky, well-made offerings are perfect for decorating haunted houses, insane asylums, your own living quarters or individual dress if you wish to walk around like it’s 1692.
further information: Salem Open Market
4.
An Arts & Crafts Affair 2019
Oct 25 - 27, 2019 | Sioux Falls, SD
Denny Sanford Premier Center|1201 Northwest Ave
With over 500 artists and crafters from 30 states featured in both spring and fall festivals, the Arts & Crafts Affair is sure to please. Iterations in Ralston, NE; Shakopee, MN; Villa Park, IL; and Sioux Falls, SD offer a wide array of art and home decor with plenty of entertainment, food, and drink for a long weekend of delightful browsing and buying!
further information: Autumn Festival, An Arts & Crafts Affair
5.
Ennis Autumn Daze 2019
Oct 26, 2019 | Ennis, TX
People and pumpkins have smiling faces at Ennis Autumn Daze. The event includes food, vendors, crafts and a farmer's market. There are various seasonal activities for children and families. Guests young and old can come out to this festival to eat, decorate pumpkins and enjoy live entertainment as they welcome the fall season.
further information: Ennis Autumn Daze
Pictures of the day
Pictures of the day
The red-banded fruiteater (Pipreola whitelyi) is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. Its known range is restricted to the humid highland forests of the tepuis in the southeast of Venezuela and western Guyana. While likely present, it remains unconfirmed in adjacent parts of northern Brazil. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern". Uniquely among the fruiteaters, the underparts of the male are primarily grey. As suggested by its common name, the male also has a conspicuous red pectoral collar. The species grows to a length of about 16.6 cm (6.5 in). This picture is a lithograph of a female (top) and a male (bottom) red-banded fruiteater, produced by Dutch bird illustrator John Gerrard Keulemans in 1886 for an edition of the journal Ibis. The adult male has greyish-green upper parts with a distinctive long golden stripe that runs above the eye and round the ear coverts. The chin and belly are grey and there is a broad, orange-red chest collar, and yellowish-ochre under-tail coverts. The female has similar head markings, a yellowish patch at the side of the neck, and moss-green upper parts. There is no chest collar and the underparts are greyish-white, boldly streaked with black. The beak and legs are pinkish-grey; the male has an orange iris and the female's is ochre.
JAMES DORAN-WEBB MAKES
INCREDIBLE CREATURES OUT OF DRIFTWOOD
Artist James Doran-Webb collects driftwood and turns it into amazing works of art.
knit
thanks, Helen
knit
thanks, Adele
knit
Knit Pattern of the Day:
thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent
crochet ... Halloween
RECIPE
thanks, Stacy
CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, Gloria
SWEETS
thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent
ADULT COLORING
CRAFTS ... Halloween
thanks for the delicate yet scary decoration, Carol
CHILDREN'S CORNER ... Halloween
thanks, Lucy
PUZZLE
| anguish armor avenue cling communication dens depression design | equal extreme fault fetish gate grit interrupt | learn musical order partner pitch plant pretty | question rare reach require right salary sight skill snack | tight tile visit weird wrong |
SUDOKU ... medium
solution:
QUOTE
thanks, Julia
CLEVER
thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent
Aquarium decoration
Fish can be the ideal pets to own if you want something that requires very little fuss. There’s not much you need to do to care for them, and you can lose hours just watching them swim around. While most people choose to fill their tanks with various decorations, this isn’t something that has to break the bank.
A lot of the time, you can just use stuff you find around the house or in your backyard, such as an old flower pot. You might be amazed by how much entertainment your aquatic pets can get out of these containers.
thanks for putting on your hat, Sheri
EYE OPENER
Written by James Alston, writing for ExoticDirect pet insurance
10 facts you didn’t know about Iguanas
1. There are around 35 species of iguana
And they’re all a bit different - although the family has undergone some reclassification in recent years.
The iguana that most people are probably most familiar with is the common Green iguana, which is also a popular pet. Some others include the Marine iguana and the Lesser Antillean iguana (both of which we’ll learn more about later), the Desert iguana which doesn’t even really look like an iguana, and the Spiny Tailed iguana which can be smaller than a meter in length.
2. They like it hot
Iguanas are native to tropical areas, including Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Being cold-blooded creatures, they spend a lot of time lazing about in the sun in order to regulate their body temperature. It’s all right for some! But although they do lie around in the sun a lot…
3. Iguanas aren’t as lazy as you might think
Iguanas certainly look cumbersome, and they’re mostly big creatures - some have been found to be over 2 metres long and over 19 pounds in weight. However, they’re actually quite fast animals, some smaller species are able to run at over 18 mph. They’re nimble climbers and are able to make short leaps from branch to branch, and some have been observed falling up to twenty feet with no harm to their health. Not recommended for humans.
4. Most are good with heights, but some prefer the ocean
Most lizards are predominantly land animals, and spend their time eating, resting, and regulating their body temperature in the sun. That being said, some species of iguana don’t mind getting a bit wet. The Marine iguana, found only on the Galapagos Islands, has the ability to forage in the sea, something no other lizard can do. It feeds mostly on algae and can dive up to 30 metres, remaining underwater for more than half an hour if it needs to.
These iguanas also have mutualistic relationships with some other animals, such as Mockingbirds and crabs which feed off the mites and ticks on their skin, and they’re often found living close to Sea lions to no apparent mutual benefit. The two simply ignore each other. How rude!
5. But it isn’t only the Marine iguana that likes taking a dip
The aforementioned Marine iguana lives predominantly off of algae, hence its proximity to the ocean. But other iguanas are generally good swimmers, too. One way they attempt to escape from predators is by jumping into the nearest body of water and swimming away.
However, some hawks, a natural predator of iguanas, have developed a technique of singing which makes the iguana freeze, meaning it can easily swoop in and pluck it up in its talons. Poor iguanas!
6. They’re vegetarians - but they aren’t that strict
Iguanas are mostly vegetarians, feeding on leaves, flowers, fruit and shoots. Some have, however, been observed eating bird’s eggs and small insects in the wild and occasionally mice and fish in captivity, a bit like when some vegetarians can’t help but get a cheeseburger after a night at the pub. We all know one...
There is discussion about whether it’s healthy for them (iguanas, not vegetarians) to eat a diet containing so much protein. Some scientists argue it’s bad for their digestive system, whereas others have observed no health problems in iguanas who eat a bit of meat. To be on the safe side, ExoticDirect recommends you don’t feed your iguana any meat and let them get their vitamins from greens!
7. They’ve got eyes in the backs of their heads
Well, not really. What they do have, though, is a so-called ‘third eye’, also known as the parietal eye. This eye can’t see like a regular one, but senses movement and shifts in light. Iguanas use it to detect predators and stay safe. Obviously this technique isn’t 100% effective when the hawks are around, though, and there’s another problem, too...
8. Some iguanas have become endangered due to unnatural predators
Numbers of the Lesser Antillean iguana have been sharply declining and are now considered critically endangered. This is due to habitat destruction, hunting, hybridisation with the Green iguana and the introduction of feral predators.
The latter of these is important because these new predators - dogs, cats, and Mongooses, mostly - have a way of hunting the iguana isn’t used to. Iguanas aren’t good at adapting to new threats and can’t properly defend against them, a phenomenon called ecological naivete.
Getting cosy with its neighbours is also a problem: because the more common Green iguana has been introduced to areas in which the Lesser Antillean iguana used to thrive, numbers of the latter have been decreasing. The two species are in direct competition for food, and moreover, because the two sometimes interbreed, the Lesser Antillean iguana has a declining population.
9. And iguanas aren’t so easy to save
Only twice has the Lesser Antillean iguana been successfully bred in captivity. This is because most of the eggs they lay in captivity are infertile. At the Durrell Wildlife Conservation in Jersey, once in 1997 and once in 2000, iguanas were successfully hatched. The first project hatched just one iguana successfully, and the second eight.
The Marine iguana is also a protected species, as it is, while not critically endangered, considered threatened. Feral dogs and cats also pose a threat to them, much the same as they do to the Lesser Antillean iguana.
Added to this is the problem that Marine iguanas have never been bred in captivity, and there’s a big conservation problem.
10. Humans like them as pets, but they don’t do well in captivity
Iguanas are among the most popular pets in the United States. They are generally docile creatures (though they can sometimes be aggressive in captivity) and can be a rewarding pet to have.
However, they are relatively difficult to care for and many die in captivity within the first year. Make sure you look after your iguana properly by feeding it the correct diet at the appropriate times and ensuring its tank is large enough.
Make sure you’ve done your research and know how to effectively look after your pet. That way you’ll be contributing to maintaining our awesome population of iguana’s, that have it so tough out in the wild.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy? -Ursula K. Le Guin, author (b. 21 Oct 1929)
OPTICAL ILLUSION
We wonder how many people can actually walk through this hall without stumbling.
This optical illusion would definitely hinder your ability to walk normally.
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