International Snow Leopard Day - October 23, 2020

 DIANE'S CORNER ... 

Celebrate Int'l Snow Leopard Day

Snow Leopards are captivating and powerful animals. However, they are also vulnerable to loss of prey and poaching. These animals are distributed sparsely across 12 different countries in Central Asia. They tend to be found in rugged, high mountain landscapes, at elevations between 3,000 and 4,500m. The key to protecting this species is raising awareness. That’s what Snow Leopard Day is all about.

History Of International Snow Leopard Day

The first Snow Leopard Day occurred on the 23rd of October in 2014. The main purpose of this day is to show the importance of snow leopard conservation and raise awareness about this incredible animal. The day also emphasizes the importance of taking measures to stop poaching, as well as consolidating efforts in terms of an environmental organization in the countries of the snow leopard range. 

The day was initiated by the countries that encompass the snow leopard’s range. They include Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russia, Pakistan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, India, China, Bhutan, and Afganistan. On the 23rd of October, in 2013, these countries signed the Bishkek Declaration regarding the conservation of the snow leopard. This happened in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, at the very first Global Snow Leopard Forum. 

Fascinating Facts About Snow Leopards 

• Snow leopards are able to prey on animals that are up to three times their own body weight.
• They have massive, thick tails, which are able to help them maintain balance and shield them from harsh weather. Their tails are almost as long as their entire body.
• A study from the WWF has recorded snow leopards living at 5,859 meters above sea level. This is the highest altitude that has ever been documented for big cats. This is about the same height as the highest mountain in Canada.
• You may be surprised to learn that snow leopards are not able to roar. Instead, they mew, yowl, and growl. They also prusten, which is also known as chuffing. This is a non-threatening vocalization, which is made when they blow air through their nose.
• The fur on the stomach of a snow leopard is almost five inches thick. This is so that they can survive in the harsh and cold mountain climates.
• These animals are often referred to as ‘ghosts of the mountain’ because they spend most of their lives in solitude and they are rarely seen.
• Snow leopards are the only big cats that call Asia’s cold deserts their home. These deserts are sometimes referred to as the third pole because they feature ice fields with the biggest reserves of freshwater outside of the southern and northern polar regions.

What Threats Do Snow Leopards Face?

The exact number of snow leopards is unknown. Experts believe that there is no more than 6,390 snow leopards around the world, yet the number could be as small as 3,920. There are a number of threats that this elusive cat faces, including poaching. Data is hard to come by in this respect because a lot of trades with snow leopard parts occur in the dark. Some research shows that one snow leopard has been killed and traded every day between 2008 and 2016. However, the true extent of the issue is thought to be even bigger. 

No animal should be poached, and this is why the likes of Snow Leopard Day are so important so that we can raise awareness about the issue. Poaching is also a problem because it takes away resources for the snow leopard. The main prey species for the snow leopard are wild goat and sheep. However, these species are also threatened by unsustainable or illegal hunting in a lot of the parts of the snow leopard range. So, if there is a decline in their populations, there is also going to be a decline in the population of the snow leopard.

Snow leopards face a number of other threats that a lot of people don’t consider. For example, their mountain ecosystem could be destroyed because of large-scale developments, including mining. Climate change also poses a number of challenges as well. Temperatures are increasing in the mountains across Central Asia. This has an impact on the entire ecosystem; from water supplies to vegetation. It is certainly worrying times for snow leopards, and a good way to spend International Snow Leopard Day is by educating yourself fully on the issues these animals face.

thanks for the coronavirus funnies, Bev

as a race, we are doomed

Joke of the Day

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

and trying on clothes, using public washrooms ...

Word of the Day

Joe or joe

MEANING:

noun:
1. A fellow; guy.
2. Coffee.

ETYMOLOGY:

For 1: Short for Joseph, from Hebrew Yoseph, from yasaf (to add or increase). Earliest documented use: 1846.
For 2: Origin unknown, perhaps an alteration of java. Earliest documented use: 1941.

USAGE:

“Sure, [Richard Jewell] made some mistakes, but he was just a regular Joe.”
Mark Daniell; Real-Life Hero; The Ottawa Citizen (Canada); Dec 13, 2019.

“He took a sip. ‘Wow, this is a great cup of joe!’”
John Teofilo Padilla Jr.; Joe and the Peace Eternal; Archway; 2018.

is this what everyone is doing with the stuff???

Idiom of the Day

All bets are off

(USA) If all bets are off, then agreements that have been made no longer apply.

a fish joke to enjoy

This Day in History

1910 - Blanche S. Scott became the first woman to make a public solo airplane flight in the United States.

1946 - The United Nations General Assembly convened in New York for the first time.

1958 - Russian poet and novelist Boris Pasternak was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. He was forced to refuse the honor due to negative Soviet reaction. Pasternak won the award for writing "Dr. Zhivago".

1962 - Steveland Morris Judkins, later known as Little Stevie Wonder, at the age of 12 recorded his first single. The song was "Thank you for Loving Me All the Way."

1973 - U.S. President Richard M. Nixon agreed to turn over the subpoenaed tapes concerning the Watergate affair.

1993 - Joe Carter (Toronto Blue Jays) became only the second player to end the World Series with a homerun.

2001 - NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft began orbiting Mars. In 2010, it became the longest-operating spacecraft ever sent to Mars.

2005 - In Chicago, IL, Lou Rawls gave his last performance when he performed the national anthem of the United States to start Game Two of the 2005 World Series.

thanks, Marge

DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, October 23

You are a persuasive, interesting, and clever person. There is a mischievous playfulness about you, and you like to poke fun at more serious or pompous individuals. You have much magnetic appeal, with both sexes. You are fiercely protective of those you love, as well as passionate and highly perceptive. You are one of the most observant people around, and your understanding of human nature belies your years in age. You don't miss much that's going around you! Your wit is sharp, yet you are sensitive to the feelings of people you hold dear. Famous people born today:

1813 Ludwig Leichhardt, German explorer, born in Sabrodt

1869 John Heisman, American football coach who legalized the forward pass, originated the center snap and for which the Heisman Trophy is named, born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 1936)

1925 Johnny Carson, American comedian and TV host (The Tonight Show, Who Do You Trust), born in Corning, Iowa (d. 2005)

1942 Michael Crichton, novelist (Andromeda Strain, Congo, Looker), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2008)

1954 Ang Lee, Taiwanese-born American filmmaker (Brokeback Mountain; Life of Pi), born in Chaochou, Pingtung, Republic of China

1959 Weird Al Yankovic [Alfred Matthew], American parody singer (Eat It, UHF, Naked Gun), born in Downey, California

1986 Emilia Clarke, English actress (Game of Thrones), born in London

thanks, Maria

READERS INFO

1.

thanks for the Offbeat Holidays, Patty

(guess who is wearing them as I write?)

National Croc Day sneaks up on us every October 23.  Crocs are making a big comeback, everywhere from college campuses to fashion runways, celebrity feet to the comedy stage. And why not? They’re versatile, vibrant, and most of all, comfortable.

2.

October 24^th – Food Day.

What a lovely non-specific day for us to celebrate.Food has always been something that brings people together. Family mealtimes, state banquets, street parties, most gatherings include food in some form or another, so celebrate by cooking something adventurous, or something you love.

3.

October 25^th – Greasy Food Day.

Something about this day seems wrong, but oh, so right! Greasy food tends to be bad for you, so be thankful that there’s one day a year that you can leave the diet at home and eat something – anything – deep or shallow fried.

4.

Coronavirus Style by Sylvia, CAN DO Correspondent

COVID solutions for some...

FRIDAY'S INTERESTING FACTS

The tradition of wearing scary costumes on Halloween comes from the ancient Celts, and they had a creepy reason for doing so: back then, people believed dressing up as demons and the like would confuse or ward off the evil spirits who roamed the streets during Samhain, a holiday that was essentially the pagan version of Halloween.

Christians, in an effort to convert pagans, changed Samhain in the 11th century to a three-day celebration from October 31st to November 2nd. The first night of this holiday is called All Hallow’s Eve, which eventually became Halloween.

Samhainophobia is the medical term for a pathological fear of Halloween.

People love carving pumpkins at Halloween, but few know the jack-o-lantern’s dark history. According to Celtic lore, a miserly old man used to play tricks on the devil and was thus denied entrance to both heaven and hell. Instead, the old man was condemned to wander the Earth and used his lantern to lead people astray from their paths.

The word “witch” actually comes from an old English word that means “wise woman.” Members of the Wiccan were once highly respected. It was popularly believed that witches held one of their two annual meetings, called sabbats, on Halloween.

COVID is getting hard on our health

PATTERN BOOK FRIDAY

The Spool Cotton Company 1952

funny, even with a grammar mistake!!! (they're)

Pictures of the Day

Eucalyptus is a genus of over seven hundred species of flowering trees, shrubs or mallees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Its foliage is relatively immune to attack by plant-eating animals because of the toxins found in the essential oil present in the leaves. Different species of Eucalyptus contain a range of differing compounds; koalas, possums and other marsupial herbivores make food choices based on the smell of the leaves. This photograph shows sawfly larvae from the family Pergidae feeding on Eucalyptus leaves in the Bogong High Plains in Victoria, Australia. The larvae are naturally gregarious, and some species can cause serious damage to Eucalyptus by defoliation.

This Greenland Shark is the Oldest Living Vertebrate Known on the Planet

Scientists used radiocarbon dating of eye lens nuclei to determine its age.

COVID & your world

knit .. Halloween
thanks, Helen

Spooky Skeleton Jar Cozy

knit
thanks, Amber

Bobble Cowl

knit

Goshen Bag

knit

Flore Dress

knit

Turning Leaves Brioche Shawl pattern by Elaine Phillips

be creative if supplies run low

Crochet Patterns of the Day: 

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Aubergine Afghan

Striped Crochet Shawl Pattern - Leona

hard to believe these exist

crochet
thanks, Adele

Omna Shawl

crochet
thanks, June

Female Doctor

crochet

Silly Puppy

crochet

Togetherness Mandala and Square Crochet pattern by Hattie Risdale

crochet

Be Kind Bobble Afghan Crochet pattern by The Crochet Couch

Even before covid!

RECIPE

thanks, Cora

Shrimp Guacamole Bites {Crowd-Pleasing Appetizer!}

buffets are a thing of the past anyways right?

Quarantine Cooking Recipes

thanks, Debbie

Easy Puff Pastry Bread Sticks Recipe

good ol' 2020

CROCKPOT RECIPE

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

Slow-Cooker Barbecue Beef Short Ribs

still worth the effort

VEGAN/ VEGETARIAN RECIPE

Both vegetarian and vegan diets may provide health benefits, including reduced body weight, lower cholesterol levels, and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, it is important for vegetarians and vegans to ensure that they are meeting all of their nutritional requirements.

thanks, Sally

Vegan Berry Crumb Muffins

no, no, no... this is SO wrong....

COPYCAT RECIPE .. crockpot

thanks, Jenny

Easy Starbucks fall drink copycat! 

Make the Best Hot Caramel Apple Cider in the Crockpot

Christmas baking this year

SWEETS

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

Best Sour Cream Pound Cake In The World Recipe

the new world for students & teachers ....

COOKBOOK FRIDAY

Healthy Food Guide - Australia (March 2020)

be flexible

ADULT COLORING

Mary Cassatt

and as we continue to isolate...

FUN

FIND THE CAT

answer:

what a year 2020 has been so far

CRAFTS

thanks, Nora

13 Celeb and Pop Culture Costumes

and you can hug while wearing a mask

CHILDREN'S CORNER .. Halloween dot to dot

on-line schooling be like....

PUZZLE

Bronze Bull Fountain Jigsaw Puzzle

thanks for the coronavirus funnies, Helen

WORD SEARCH

arouse arrangement askance begin capes clean closer

concentrate country curd demand expert

fall focus force future monster narrow newspaper number

people powerful prance prepare rally rear rule

secret sense sentry serene spoke surrender taper teal tyrant

SUDOKU .. very hard

solution:

ICE BREAKER ...

thanks, Kris

You can use 'ice breaker questions' to build a rapport, enabling strangers to engage in back and forth conversion. With a little practice and possibly a beer or two, you’ll be breaking more ice than the Titanic. 

What’s Your Most Embarrassing Moment From Your Teen Years?

QUOTE

thanks, Dana

CLEVER 

thanks, Julia

Two nurses get married with photos of loved ones in the pews.

EYE OPENER 

thanks, Lori

The Best Halloween Dish from Every State

FYI

Coca-Cola is Discontinuing Their Iconic Tab Soda 

by the End of 2020

Coca-Cola says “Bye Felicia” to its first Diet Soda! 

2020 just got worse for Tab cola drinkers! On October 16th, the Coca-Cola Company announced that it will be discontinuing Tab Soda by the end of the year as well as their Zico Coconut Water.

This news follows an announcement made by the company in September that they would be cutting over half of their 500 brands.

If this is your go-to brand of soda, you may want to hit the store and stock up while you still can!

Tab first hit the market back in 1963 as the soda giant’s first-ever diet cola, helping people “keep tabs” on their weight. It had its heyday during the ’60s and ’70s but its popularity dwindled with the introduction of Diet Coke in 1982.

Coca-Cola continued to produce Tab in lesser quantities over the years and the soda has retained a cult following in the United States.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That's why it's a comfort to go hand in hand. -Emily Kimbrough, author and broadcaster (23 Oct 1899-1989)

thanks for the coronavirus funny, Frances

OPTICAL ILLUSION

Michael George Haddad

www.DianesDailyCorner.Blogspot.com