DIANE'S CORNER .. Celebrate Darwin Day
We must, however, acknowledge, as it seems to me, that man with all his noble qualities… still bears in his bodily frame the indelible stamp of his lowly origin.
Charles Darwin
A pivotal moment in history occurred when we began to take a hard look at ourselves, and at life, in a new way. It changed not just how we perceived ourselves, but it also affected how we understood our relationship to all the other life and species on Earth. We came to realize, along the way, that we had been connected, however distantly, to every form of life on Earth, and that moment was both aggrandizing and humbling, all at once.
That moment was when Charles Darwin brought the idea of Law of Natural Selection into the limelight of the scientific world, and we began to see with clear eyes how everything, absolutely everything, was connected.
History of Darwin Day
Darwin’s theories have been absolutely fundamental to the understanding of life and the species of the world as we know it today. Charles Robert Darwin was born in 1809, in Shrewsbury, England, and received his education at University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He grew to become a naturalist and geologist who would eventually impact the thinking of people all over the world.
Darwin was fascinated by the number and variety of fossils from around the planet, as well as the species in their great diversity. So he set out on a five-year voyage on the Beagle to sail around the world and study life in all of its unique and varied forms, making particularly important discoveries in the Galapagos islands.
Darwin’s theories presented the ideas that some species originated from other species, and that even man itself had a shared ancestor with the primates. While his theories were originally rejected by the scientists of his day, they were slowly accepted as more and more data was collected and more species were discovered. DNA research seemed to push his theories even further, as scientists started to see the connections between species in the very genes that composed them.
People have been celebrating Darwin’s birthday (on February 12) for many years, but it came about as an actual day back in the 1990s. It was meant by the founders to not only celebrate Mr. Darwin, but also various other scientific achievements made by humanity.
Joke of the Day .. Valentine's Day
Word of the Day
sialoquent
Roy Hattersley, British MP, in the satirical puppet show
MEANING:adjective: Spraying saliva when speaking.
ETYMOLOGY:From Greek sialon (spit, saliva) + Latin loqui (to speak). Earliest documented use: 1656.
USAGE:“The powerful trio [CEOs of GM, Ford, and Chrysler] were greeted with disdain and disbelief. Sialoquent congressmen vented their rage one by one.”
Levi Tillemann; The Great Race; Simon & Schuster; 2015.
Levi Tillemann; The Great Race; Simon & Schuster; 2015.
Idiom of the Day
What does 'As good as your word' mean?
If you say you will do something and then do it, you are as good as your word.
If you say you will do something and then do it, you are as good as your word.
This Day in History
1878 - Frederick W. Thayer patented the baseball catcher’s mask.
1909 - The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded.
1915 - The cornerstone of the Lincoln Memorial was laid in Washington, DC.
1940 - Mutual Radio presented the first broadcast of the radio play "The Adventures of Superman."
1968 - Jimi Hendrix returned home to Seattle where he received a key to the city and an honorary high school diploma. He also played for the students of Garfield High School from which he had dropped out.
1971 - James Cash (J.C.) Penney died at the age of 95. The company closed for business for one-half day as a memorial to the company's founder.
1997 - David Bowie received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2001 - The space probe NEAR landed on the asteroid Eros. It was the first time that any craft had landed on a small space rock.
thanks, Julia
DAILY SQU-EEK .. Valentine's Day
If You Were Born Today, February 12
You are a strong-minded person who is not always tactful, even though you are gifted with expression, but generally very straightforward. You love a good competition, particularly on a mental level. Success is important to you, and you usually achieve what you set out to do. Impatience can be a problem that you gradually manage better as you mature in life. Your visual memory is excellent and artistic taste quite refined. Famous people born today:
READERS INFO
On this day in 1938, best-selling author Judy Blume, known for her children’s books and young-adult novels, including “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing” and “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” is born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Blume’s books have been beloved by several generations of readers; however, the explicit subject matter of some of her novels for adolescents has made them a target for censors.
Unless you’re a bit of a couch potato, you will on average walk around 7,500 steps per day. Assuming the average person lives until they’re 80 it works out that you will walk about 110,000 miles (177,027 km) in your lifetime. The circumference of the Earth at the equator is 24,900 miles (40,072 km). So providing you’re an average person, who takes average strides and lives an average length of time, then it’s entirely possible to walk the equivalent of five times around the Earth!
Unless you’re a bit of a couch potato, you will on average walk around 7,500 steps per day. Assuming the average person lives until they’re 80 it works out that you will walk about 110,000 miles (177,027 km) in your lifetime. The circumference of the Earth at the equator is 24,900 miles (40,072 km). So providing you’re an average person, who takes average strides and lives an average length of time, then it’s entirely possible to walk the equivalent of five times around the Earth!
A company in Poland makes dinnerware out of wheat, so you can eat your plate!
The dinnerware is made out of wheat bran, which is part of a grain of wheat’s kernel. The reason they makes plates out of wheat bran to start with is that it’s not just edible – it’s completely biodegradable too! While plastic dinnerware may take centuries to decompose, if it’s made out of wheat bran it can take just thirty days – say goodbye to feeling guilty about using disposable dinnerware! At the moment they make plates, bowls, and even cutlery – all which can withstand high temperatures and wet foods.
The dinnerware is made out of wheat bran, which is part of a grain of wheat’s kernel. The reason they makes plates out of wheat bran to start with is that it’s not just edible – it’s completely biodegradable too! While plastic dinnerware may take centuries to decompose, if it’s made out of wheat bran it can take just thirty days – say goodbye to feeling guilty about using disposable dinnerware! At the moment they make plates, bowls, and even cutlery – all which can withstand high temperatures and wet foods.
It’s a common misconception that Vincent van Gogh only sold one painting in his lifetime.
Just a few months before his passing, Van Gogh sold his painting “The Red Vineyard”. Many claim this to have been the only painting he sold in his lifetime, but this is far from the truth. The reality is that he definitely sold a number, one to a Parisian art dealer and another to a gallery in London. He also exchanged many paintings throughout his life with friends in return for art supplies, or even food. The closest accurate claim to the common myth would be that he only ever made one major sale, The Red Vineyard.
Just a few months before his passing, Van Gogh sold his painting “The Red Vineyard”. Many claim this to have been the only painting he sold in his lifetime, but this is far from the truth. The reality is that he definitely sold a number, one to a Parisian art dealer and another to a gallery in London. He also exchanged many paintings throughout his life with friends in return for art supplies, or even food. The closest accurate claim to the common myth would be that he only ever made one major sale, The Red Vineyard.
An apple, potato, and onion all taste the same if you eat them with your nose plugged.
It’s commonly known now that at least 80% of our sense of taste actually comes from our sense of smell. Because of this, if you were to block of sense of smell many things actually would taste the same, or at least pretty darn close. In this case, it’s been tested on many different people who were blindfolded and had their noses plugged. The results? The participants couldn’t distinguish between the three, other than from their texture!
It’s commonly known now that at least 80% of our sense of taste actually comes from our sense of smell. Because of this, if you were to block of sense of smell many things actually would taste the same, or at least pretty darn close. In this case, it’s been tested on many different people who were blindfolded and had their noses plugged. The results? The participants couldn’t distinguish between the three, other than from their texture!
There is an official Wizard of New Zealand.
In 1990, the Prime Minister of New Zealand appointed Ian Brackenbury Channell, who was an old friend, as the official Wizard of New Zealand. He is even given an annual stipend. Known simply as “The Wizard”, he is known to be quite outspoken on social issues. He was even given the Queen’s service medal for his lifelong service to the community.
PATTERN BOOK FRIDAY
In 1990, the Prime Minister of New Zealand appointed Ian Brackenbury Channell, who was an old friend, as the official Wizard of New Zealand. He is even given an annual stipend. Known simply as “The Wizard”, he is known to be quite outspoken on social issues. He was even given the Queen’s service medal for his lifelong service to the community.
Pictures of the Day
Germany .. Valentine's Day
knit
thanks, Nancy
knit
thanks, Dawn
knit
crochet
thanks, Laura
crochet
crochet
crochet .. Valentine's Day
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 .. Valentine's Day
ADULT COLORING .. Valentine's Day
I caused my mother’s death and didn’t get convicted.
I married 100 women and never got divorced.
I got born before my father, but I am considered perfectly normal?
CRAFTS .. Valentine's Day
PUZZLE .. Valentine's Day
WORD SEARCH
| airship always arrow assume batch bench boast | clear concrete country dolls every filament fortunate future | grill king level macho method person | quiet quite rove rumor sets simple sorry stake strap | three ties toast tore touch unpack wage waste weight women |
SUDOKU .. hard
What Is The Craziest Thing That You Have Ever Done While Drunk?
QUOTE .. Valentine's Day
CLEVER .. Valentine's Day
The Story
Mooove over meat, there's new game in town.
It's too early to talk about meat.
Steak with us: Singapore just became the first government to greenlight cultured meat. Kind of like lab-grown diamonds but...for meat. In this case, the chicken came first. Here's how it works: animal cells are obtained via a biopsy or a cell bank and are cultured (hence the name) in a lab. Then, they're fed a plant-based diet. Sprinkle in some scientific magic and voilà, we have the meats.
I'm impressed.
The animals are too. Especially since, barring the biopsy, none were harmed in the making of this meat. Singapore's Food Agency granted approval for Eat Just – a San Francisco-based company that has manufacturers in Singapore – to roll out and sell its lab-made chicken at a restaurant there. The meat, which reportedly has the same nutrients as conventional meat, will first be sold in the form of...drumsticks please...chicken nuggets. And the company hopes other countries will follow in Singapore's footsteps. The news comes as the $1.4 trillion meat industry faces criticism from animal-rights and climate-change activists.
Why's that?
Because tens of billions of chickens are killed each year. And livestock accounts for about 14.5% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions – about the same as the transportation industry (think: cars, airplanes). The high number is in part because livestock production requires a lot of land, energy, and water. Some animals (like cows and sheep) are also known to emit methane – a heat-trapping gas that's significantly more potent than carbon dioxide – contributing to global warming. Cultured meat could help countries cross the road to a more sustainable alternative. And in turn, help the planet.
I feel like you have more to say...
The UN does. Yesterday, it warned that humanity is waging what it describes as a "suicidal" war on nature. And said we're close to a "climate catastrophe" with 2020 expected to be one of the hottest years to date. If cultured meat were to take over a portion of the farm animal industry, it could lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. And scientists say cutting down on livestock consumption is vital to combatting the climate crisis and the single best environmental action a person can take. Two birds, one stone.
theSkimm
Humans have been eating animals for millions of years. And our penchant for meat is contributing to a climate crisis. Now, Singaporeans are getting access to a more humane, Mother Nature-approved alternative. It's a wing-win. And a nugget of good news the rest of the world may want to get in on.
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