Thomas Jefferson Day - April 13. 2020

DIANE'S CORNER ... 

Celebrate Thomas Jefferson Day

in this year of extra tears, watch this comedy seder event

Saturday Night Seder

Thomas Jefferson Day celebrates the birthday of Thomas Jefferson, who was the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of Republicanism in the United States. Major events during his presidency include the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

As a political philosopher, Jefferson was a man of the Enlightenment and knew many intellectual leaders in Britain and France. He idealized the independent yeoman farmer as exemplar of republican virtues, distrusted cities and financiers, and favoured states’ rights and a strictly limited federal government. Jefferson also supported the separation of church and state and was the author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.

A polymath, Jefferson achieved distinction as, among other things, a horticulturist, statesman, architect, archaeologist, author, inventor and founder of the University of Virginia. When President John F. Kennedy welcomed forty-nine Nobel Prize winners to the White House in 1962 he said, “I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent and of human knowledge that has ever been gathered together at the White House—with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.”

In his early life Jefferson practiced law and served in the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 1774, he wrote A Summary View of the Rights of British America, which was intended as instructions for the Virginia delegates to a national congress. The pamphlet was a powerful argument of American terms for a settlement with Britain. It helped speed the way to independence, and marked Jefferson as one of the most thoughtful patriot spokesmen.

As the primary author of the Declaration of Independence and a significant contributor to American political and civil culture, the Continental Congress delegated the task of writing the Declaration to a Committee of Five which unanimously solicited Jefferson to write the first draft, which underwent some alteration, but remained largely Jefferson’s work.

Joke of the Day

thanks, Helen

How to Start a Fight

My wife sat down next to me as I was flipping channels.

She asked, "What's on TV?"

I said, "Dust."

And then the fight started...

Word of the Day

rad

MEANING:

noun: One who advocates fundamental or far-reaching change or reform.
adjective: Extraordinary; wonderful; fashionable; hip; cool.

ETYMOLOGY:

From shortening of radical, from Latin radix (root). Ultimately from the Indo-European root wrad- (branch, root), which also gave us radish, root, rutabaga, eradicate, and ramify. Earliest documented use: 1820 for noun, 1976 for adjective.

USAGE:

“‘Are you sure you want to get mixed up with these rads?’
‘These rads probably have the right idea.’ She unlocked her bike. ‘Our water is very important. People don’t seem to realize we can’t live without clean water.’”
Joyce and Jim Lavene; Perfect Poison; Penguin; 2008.

“‘Steep’: Extreme skiers hurl themselves down precipices and discuss how totally rad their sport is.”
Phelim O’Neill; DVD Releases; The Guardian (London, UK); Dec 20, 2008.

Idiom of the Day

5. Blessing in disguise

Meaning: Something good that isn’t recognized at first.

This Day in History

1742 - George Frideric Handel's "Messiah" was first performed publicly, in Dublin, Ireland.

1782 - Washington, NC, was incorporated as the first town to be named for George Washington.

1870 - The Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded in New York City.

1933 - The first flight over Mount Everest was completed by Lord Clydesdale.

1943 - U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Jefferson Memorial.

1949 - Philip S. Hench and associates announced that cortizone was an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

1958 - Van Cliburn of Kilgore, TX, earned 1st prize in the Soviet Union's Tchaikovsky International Piano Contest in Moscow. He was the first American to win the award.

1960 - The first navigational satellite was launched into Earth's orbit.

1964 - Sidney Poitier became the first black to win an Oscar for best actor. It was for his role in the movie "Lilies of the Field."

1979 - The world's longest doubles ping-pong match ended after 101 hours.

1985 - The single "We Are the World" hit #1 in the U.S.


1997 - Tiger Woods became the youngest person to win the Masters Tournament at the age of 21. He also set a record when he finished at 18 under par.


1998 - Dolly, the world's first cloned sheep, gave natural birth to a healthy baby lamb.


2016 - The Golden State Warriors ended the regular season with a record of 73-9. This beat the NBA record set by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.




DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, April 13

You are a success-oriented person. Although you may not actively pursue success, it tends to come to you anyhow as you work determinedly. While you are willing to take some risks, you are basically very security-conscious. You rarely ask for help, feeling that if you can't learn or do something on your own, it is somehow not very satisfying. You can be a bit of a workaholic and should try to avoid being so consumed by your work that your personal life suffers. Famous people born today: 

1570 Guy Fawkes, English Catholic conspirator who was convicted in the "Gunpowder Plot" to blow up the British Parliament, born in York, England (d. 1606)

1743 Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States (1801-09), born in Albemarle County, Virginia (d. 1826)

1866 Butch Cassidy [Robert LeRoy Parker], American desperado (Wild Bunch Passage), born in Beaver, Utah (d. 1908)

1892 Robert Watson-Watt, Scottish physicist and developer of the radar and radio direction finding in WWII, born in Brechin, Scotland (d. 1973)

1906 Samuel Beckett, Irish novelist and playwright (Waiting for Godot, Nobel 1969), born in Foxrock, Ireland (d. 1989)

1939 Seamus Heaney, Irish poet and playwright (Nobel Prize in Literature 1995), born in Castledawson, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland (d. 2013)

thanks, Amy

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READERS INFO

1.

(Not So) Totally Useless Facts of The Day:

OLYMPIA once came alongside the HMS VICTORY during WWI. VICTORY, one of the most significant British warships to ever exist, is the oldest commissioned vessel in the world. She is now a museum in Portsmouth, UK

Fernando Amorsolo was the first National Artist of the Philippines. The official title “Grand Old Man of Philippine Art” was bestowed on Amorsolo on January 23, 1969.

Astronaut John Young smuggled a corned beef sandwich on Gemini 3 because it, quote, “seemed like a fun idea at the time.” The resulting crumbs? Not so fun.

2.

thanks for the Offbeat Holiday, Patty

APRIL 13: NATIONAL SCRABBLE DAY

Created by Alfred Mosher Butts in 1938, Scrabble did not become a national phenomenon until the 1950s. It has since inspired less mobility-impaired games like Bananagrams and Words With Friends. But to honor the holiday, use a classic board and show off your robust vocabulary.

3.

1997 -

 

Tiger Woods became the youngest person to win the Masters Tournament at the age of 21 on this day in 1997. He also set a
record when he finished at 18 under par.

4.

Coronavirus Style by Sylvia, CAN DO Correspondent

I am alone, and got up and dressed for our Easter Service online, then Zoomed in to fellowship with other people from my church. 

As you may have gathered, I like to cook, but there is no point in making a large dinner, much as I would like it. I was supposed to make a lemon meringue pie for one of my grandsons and his fiancee family dinner today, but that's not happening. Sadly, he and his fiancee are isolated from each other, so sad for the young.

But I have three Lindt truffles and the remains of a keto pound cake (with the best cream cheese icing I have ever tasted) so from my half-pound of ground beef I am going to make  myself a Blue Plate Special. This was a favorite entree at diners and drugstore restaurant counters back in the day, and it was a favorite with two of my grandsons. I will have to make it without the mushrooms as I am out of them, and no more groceries coming for two weeks, but I have Magic Mushroom Seasoning from Viet Nam for umami (did you know you can make your own?) and I can substitute the mushrooms with an onion - it will still provide me with some comfort-food deliciousness on this festive day, especially with some nice potatoes!

Blue Plate Special

1-1/2 lbs.     ground beef
1                  egg
2                  green onions, chopped
1/4 c.           bread crumbs
1 T.               Dijon mustard

Mix this all up and fry in a skillet deep enough for the gravy:

1-1/2 c.         beef gravy*
1 T.               horseradish
1 c.                fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced

Pour over the patties when the second side is browned, turn down the heat and cover just until the mushrooms are cooked.

Serve with potatoes, carrots and peas, of course.

*Homemade Gravy

Melt 2 T. fat or bacon grease in a sauce pan, whisk in 2 T. flour, then gradually add 2 c. beef broth, whisking until bubbly and smooth.
OR
Melt 2 T. fat or bacon grease in a sauce pan, whisk in 2 c. cold beef broth into which 2 T. of cornstarch has been added and mixed in. Whisk until bubbly and smooth.

Pictures of the day

The Portuguese real was the unit of currency of Portugal from  around 1430 to 1911. It replaced the dinheiro at the rate of 1  real for 840 dinheiros, and was itself replaced by the escudo as  a result of the Republican revolution of 1910 at a rate of 1  escudo for 1,000 réis. This picture shows a 2,400-real banknote issued as part of Portugal's second issue of paper money in  1798–99. The Portuguese text on the note's obverse (top) translates to: 'The Royal Treasury has to pay the bearer of this  policy within one year of today two thousand and four hundred  réis. As its representative I swear, Lisbon, 23 April 1799.' It was  thus a receipt payable to the bearer of the document, rather than the original depositThe Portuguese real was the unit of currency  of Portugal from around 1430 to 1911. It replaced the dinheiro at the rate of 1 real for 840 dinheiros, and was itself replaced by the escudo as a result of the Republican revolution of 1910 at a rate of 1 escudo for 1,000 réis. This picture shows a 2,400-real  banknote issued as part of Portugal's second issue of paper  money in 1798–99. The Portuguese text on the note's obverse  (top) translates to: 'The Royal Treasury has to pay the bearer of  this policy within one year of today two thousand and four hundred réis. As its representative I swear, Lisbon, 23 April 1799.' It was  thus a receipt payable to the bearer of the document, rather than the original depositor. The curved cut in the scrollwork in the left margin was an early anti-counterfeiting measure; the severed  portion was retained by the issuing authority and could be  compared to the note when it was presented for payment. This  banknote is now in the National Numismatic Collection at the  Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History.

Switzerland

Near Cousset

knit ... Mother's Day
thanks, Emily

Mother's Day Cloth...

knit
thanks, Rose

Seed Stitch Tea Cozy

knit

Bessie Positive/Negative Stole pattern by Irina Poludnenko
knit

Twinkle Kitty pattern by Sarah Bandoian
knit

Les Mains Vertes pattern by Bev W


Crochet Pattern of the Day: 

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Mother's Day

Crochet Lilac Flowers for a Mother’s Day Card

Ariana Shawl

crochet
thanks, Kay

Baggy bag

crochet
thanks, Mindy

Crochet Leaf Bookmark pattern by Olga Poltava

crochet

Kaleidoscope Throw

crochet

Cropped Cardigan

crochet

Marigold Motif Tablecloth

RECIPE

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

Lasagna Recipe

CROCKPOT RECIPE
thanks, Sally

Drunken Garlic Crock Pot Roast Recipe

SWEETS

thanks, Jane

Peanut Butter Balls

ADULT COLORING

CRAFTS

thanks, Zoey

How to make a Seasonal DIY Wall Hanging

CHILDREN'S CORNER ... coloring

PUZZLE

Bell Clear Jigsaw Puzzle

WORD SEARCH

allies alone asking backs bleach blend comfortable

devise early electrical explain funeral gratitude

heal honor lacking leader leave leis level meals

null phone rale responsible rice right rooted

seen serious sewer shove stand thanks thought tier train tribal

SUDOKU ... hard

solution:

thanks, Patty. "There are so many cartoons about dogs hiding when their owners want to take them out for their 500th walk of the day. So in the interest of peace and goodwill I think other pets should get a turn too!"

Blanca Gomez is an illustrator living and working in Madrid, Spain.

QUOTE

thanks, Beth



CLEVER 

thanks, Karla

What Did Hubble See on Your Birthday?

EYE OPENER 

thanks, Natalie

36 Fun Activities to Do With the Whole Family During Social Isolation

thanks, Cher, "Be Safe - Stay Healthy - Keep Calm"

Half of us are going to come out of this quarantine as amazing cooks. The other half will come out with a drinking problem.

·         I used to spin that toilet paper like I was on Wheel of Fortune. Now I turn it like I'm cracking a safe.

·         I need to practice social-distancing from the refrigerator.

·         Still haven't decided where to go for Easter ----- The Living Room or The Bedroom

·         PSA: every few days try your jeans on just to make sure they fit. Pajamas will have you believe all is well in the kingdom.

·         Homeschooling is going well. 2 students suspended for fighting and 1 teacher fired for drinking on the job.

·         I don't think anyone expected that when we changed the clocks we'd go from Standard Time to the Twilight Zone

·         This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her cat. It was obvious she thought her cat understood her. I came into my house, told my dog..... we laughed a lot.

·         Quarantine Day 5: Went to this restaurant called THE KITCHEN. You have to gather all the ingredients and make your own meal. I have no clue how this place is still in business.

·         My body has absorbed so much soap and disinfectant lately that when I pee it cleans the toilet.

·         Day 6 of Homeschooling: One of these little monsters called in a bomb threat.

·         Classified Ad: Single man with toilet paper seeks woman with hand sanitizer for good clean fun.

·         Day 7 of Homeschooling: My child just said "I hope I don't have the same teacher next year".... I'm offended.

·         Better 6 feet apart than 6 feet under

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Go to where the silence is and say something. -Amy Goodman, investigative journalist, columnist and author (b. 13 Apr 1957)

thanks, Sue

OPTICAL ILLUSION

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