DIANE'S CORNER ... Celebrate Bird Day
Excited birders have crammed into a Maryland park, braving rain and dismally low temperatures, to witness the painted bunting, a brightly coloured bird that usually reserves its elan for the warmer climes of Florida.
There are a lot of different species of birds in the world. Different people have different relationships with the various species. As such, one could easily imagine that there are actually numerous Bird Days in the world, serving different purposes varying by region.
What we’re talking about is known as Bird Day, observed primarily in the United States, which is different from occasions such as International Migratory Bird Day, World Migratory Bird Day, Bird Day (UK), and several other Bird Days which do not follow the same etymology as “turkey day”.
We’ll also note that all of these are all named for our avian friends, not the late Senator Robert Byrd. The National is a bit deceptive here; For a day to technically be a National holiday, an Act of Congress is required, and there’s no evidence that has ever happened. That being said, it is popularly known as Bird Day, regardless of whatever Congress might think of that.
History of Bird Day
Back in 1894, Charles Almanzo Babcock, the superintendent of schools in Oil City, Pennsylvania, declared the first holiday in the United States to celebrate birds. Babcock wanted to advance bird conservation as a moral value and it seems that his holiday caught on. Babcock’s Bird Day is actually what is now known as International Migratory Bird Day, though it isn’t actually related to Bird Day in terms of history. Bird Day marked the end of the annual Christmas Bird Count in the mid-21st century.
However, it does seem that Bird Day is at least dedicated in part to raising awareness about birds held in captivity. Presumably that includes your Aunt Marjorie’s parrot, the penguins in the Columbus Zoo, and that turkey that made the ultimate sacrifice to grace your family’s dinner table back in November.
After all, a holiday that marks the end of three weeks of focusing on wild birds that occurs during the Christmas Bird Count would appropriately focus some attention on captive birds. There’s also a website at Bird Day, if you want to learn more about the folks actually promoting the holiday.
Joke of the Day
Pavlov is sitting at a pub, enjoying a pint. Suddenly the phone rings and he jumps up shouting, “Oh no, I forgot to feed the dog!”
Explanation
Pavlov is a physiologist who used to ring a bell every time he fed his dogs. After some time, he noticed that ringing the bell by its own caused salivation in his dogs, even if he didn’t offer them any food.
Word of the Day
promontory
MEANING:noun:
1. A point of high land projecting into a body of water.
2. A projecting part of the body, for example, of a bone.
ETYMOLOGY:From Latin promontorium, alteration of promunturium, influenced by mons (mountain). Ultimately from the Indo-European root men- (project), which is also the source of menace, mountain, eminent, promenade, demean, amenable, mouth, and minatory. Earliest documented use: 1548.
USAGE:“No man is an Island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.”
John Donne; Devotions upon Emergent Occasions; 1624.
1. A point of high land projecting into a body of water.
2. A projecting part of the body, for example, of a bone.
John Donne; Devotions upon Emergent Occasions; 1624.
Idiom of the Day
What does 'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure' mean?
This expression means that is is better to try to avoid problems in the first place, rather than trying to fix them once they arise.
This Day in History
1925 - Mrs. Nellie Taylor Ross was sworn in as the governor of Wyoming She was the first female governor in the U.S.
1933 - In California, construction of the Golden Gate Bridge began.
thanks, Bev
DAILY SQU-EEK
If You Were Born Today, January 5:
Extremely versatile, you are multi-talented, clever, and imaginative. You are highly compassionate and sensitive, sometimes to the point of despondency, and it can take time in your life to find effective ways to manage this trait. Emotional impulsiveness is something you are likely to struggle with in your life time. When focused, you have strong leadership skills and a strong will as well. You are independent and unique, very perceptive, and highly original. Famous people born today:
1946 Diane Keaton, American actress (Annie Hall, Little Drummer Girl), born in Los Angeles, California
Pictures of the Day
Google Trends 'Year in Search' 2020 Visualized
Three Kings, South Africa.
knit
thanks, Karen
knit
thanks, Adele
knit
knit
crochet
thanks, Marilyn
crochet
CROCKPOT RECIPE
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.
SWEETS
ADULT COLORING
Answer: Your left hand.
CRAFTS
PUZZLE
WORD SEARCH
| across again area arrest become bonus came coal confuse | denial enough fantasy feats fruit gain health | imagine insane jambs legislate nation neat neglect none | pent ravine retreat ruse seen setting shoal | spirit strain strong test threat waste watch wrong |
SUDOKU .. easy
solution:
Which Band / Artist – Dead Or Alive Would Play At Your Funeral?
QUOTE
CLEVER
[The Wall Street Journal said it is "to apply biblical or spiritual principles into a field where they do not belong ... (Ford has) committed economic blunders, if not crimes." Ford actually doubled its profits in two years.]
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