International Men's Day - November 19, 2021

DIANE'S CORNER .. 

Celebrate Int'l Men's Day

According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of forty-five. This is the case in many countries worldwide, including the UK, USA, Australia, and Russia. In term of statistics it seems that more women are diagnosed with depression more often than men but that men are more likely to commit suicide.

Clearly there are reasons for this that are particular to men. Gender, cultural conditioning, and adequate role-models are contributing factors. As many women as men may contemplate ending their own lives, but men are more likely to go through with it, and often in violent ways. This says something about the psychology, attitudes, and mental well-being of men in our communities.

From a young age, boys are gendered in a particular way – boys will be boys, they are told, and boys don’t cry. With variation, it is a sensibility found in many cultures around the globe. As they grow up men are encouraged to present a strong, unaffected image, that often masks the deep need to communicate what is going on for them emotionally.

It is not to say that women have an easier time than men when it comes to mental health issues, but the data shows that our cultural perspectives and expectations of gender may contribute significantly to an increased suicide rate in men.

History Of International Men’s Day

In the early years IMD received overwhelming support in the Caribbean and due to the persistent networking and invitations sent to individuals in other nations International Men’s Day has taken root on the international scene. The Caribbean initiative is now independently celebrated in countries as diverse as Singapore, Australia, India, United Kingdom, United States, South Africa, Haiti, Jamaica, Hungary, Malta, Ghana, Moldova, and Canada and interest in the event is increasing rapidly.

Since 1999 the methods of commemorating International Men’s Day have included the giving and receiving of gifts, public seminars, forums, conferences, classroom activities at schools, Men’s Health events, Movember fundraisers, radio and television programs, Parliamentary speeches, Government Observances, Church observances, prayer meetings, peaceful gatherings and marches, awards ceremonies, special retail promotions, music concerts and art displays. The manner of observing this annual day is optional; any organizations are welcome to host their events, and any appropriate forums can be used.

Why is it relevant today?

International Men’s Day seeks to raise awareness about mental health issues in men, as well as other health and societal issues, by encouraging men to open up and communicate with others. The traditional ideas of what masculinity means in society is changing, and needs to change, if vulnerable men are to be protected from these harmful conditions.

As stereotypes and discrimination start to break down in our culture there is an emerging need for boys and young men to identify with positive role models that embody the true qualities of masculinity. Those of kindness, generosity, inner strength, and natural, open communication. International Men’s Day, and the month of November, is an excellent opportunity in our global culture to present the true face of masculinity to those who need to see it.

There are many high-profile men now embracing International Men’s Day, opening up channels of communication and taking responsibility for presenting this new wave of masculinity.

International Men’s Day encourages men to teach the boys in their lives the values, character and responsibilities of being a man. Mahatma Gandhi said, “We must become the change we seek.” It is only when we all, both men and women, lead by example that we will create a fair and safe society which allows everyone the opportunity to prosper.

René Magritte, in full René-François-Ghislain Magritte, (born November 21, 1898, Lessines, Belgium—died August 15, 1967, Brussels), Belgian artist, one of the most prominent Surrealist painters, whose bizarre flights of fancy blended horror, peril, comedy, and mystery. His works were characterized by particular symbols—the female torso, the bourgeois “little man,” the bowler hat, the apple, the castle, the rock, the window, and other ordinary objects, which were often set in unusual or unsettling situations.

JOKE OF THE DAY

WORD OF THE DAY

presently

MEANING:

adverb:
1. In a short while: soon.
2. At the present time: now.

ETYMOLOGY:

From English present, from Old French, from Latin praesent- (stem of praesens), from present participle of praeesse (to be present before others), from prae- (pre-) + esse (to be). Earliest documented use: 1385.

NOTES:

The word “presently” can mean “soon” or “now”. There’s also an archaic sense “immediately”. If all this ambiguity bothers you, I’d like you to meet Spanish mañana which can mean “morning” or “tomorrow” or “future”. Then there’s Hindi kal which can mean “yesterday” or “tomorrow”.

USAGE:

“Presently, it has 56 permanent workers and engages an average of 100 casual workers daily.”
Alberto Mario Noretti; Maphlix Trust Ghana to Employ 400 Workers; Ghanaian Times (Accra); Sep 30, 2021.

“These hills, now motionless as statues, would presently glide forward.”
Algernon Blackwood; Four Weird Tales; Good Press; 2019.

TODAY'S ARTIST 

thanks, Natalie

Tarō Okamoto (岡本 太郎, Okamoto Tarō, February 26, 1911 – January 7, 1996) 

was a Japanese artist, art theorist, and writer. He is particularly well known for his avant-garde paintings and public sculptures and murals, and for his theorization of traditional Japanese culture and avant-garde artistic practices.

IDIOM OF THE DAY

What does 'Bee in your bonnet' mean?

Meaning: If someone is very excited about something, they have a bee in their bonnet, it's outstanding or the best in its class..

DAILY SQUEEK

If You Were Born Today, November 19th

You are a determined, sharp-witted person with strong desires and attainable ideals. You need to stand out, not in a flashy manner, but as an entirely unique individual. Others naturally admire you for your strength of character and backbone. Although you are a natural leader, you are also a humanitarian. At times quite self-absorbed and private, you are very much at ease in social settings as well. You need channels for your strong desires and your need for self-expression. Never afraid of an obstacle along your path, you are gutsy, dynamic, resourceful, and you rise to a challenge. Famous people born today: 

1831 James A. Garfield, 20th US President (Republican: 1881), born in Moreland Hills, Ohio (d. 1881)

1875 Hiram Bingham, American archaeologist who re-discovered the Incan site of Machu Picchu, born in Honolulu, Kingdom of Hawaii (d. 1956)

1888 José Raúl Capablanca, Cuban world chess champion (1921-27), born in Havana, Cuba, Spanish Empire (d. 1942)

1905 Tommy Dorsey, American trombonist and big band leader (Opus No. 1; I'll Never Smile Again), born in Mahanoy Plane, Pennsylvania (d. 1956)

1920 Gene Tierney, American actress (Laura, Leave Her to Heaven, The Razor's Edge), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1991)

1933 Larry King [Zeiger], American radio/TV host (Larry King Live, CNN), born in NYC, New York (d. 2021) 

1938 Ted Turner, American founder of CNN, owner of the Atlanta Braves and winner of the America's Cup in 1977, born in Cincinnati, Ohio

1942 Calvin Klein, American fashion designer (Calvin Klein Jeans, CK), born in The Bronx, New York

1961 Meg Ryan, American actress (When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle), born in Fairfield, Connecticut

1962 Jodie Foster, American actress (The Accused, The Silence of the Lambs), born in Los Angeles, California

1976 Jack Dorsey, American computer programmer, co-founder of Twitter, born in St. Louis, Missouri

1983 Adam Driver, American actor (Girls, Star Wars), born in Fontana, California

thanks, Patsy

(Not So) TOTALLY USELESS FACTS OF THE DAY

The term "agnostic" was coined in 1869 by T.H. Huxley, who described it as a method which applies a key principle: Follow logic "as far as it can take you." Then, once you have established as much as possible — sincerely recognize
the limits of your knowledge.

Putting salt on a pineapple slice will make it taste sweeter. The salt reduces the pineapple's acidity, decreasing any sourness.

On April 1st, 1957, BBC aired a three-minute hoax-segment about spaghetti trees. A number of viewers contacted the station for more information about how they could grow their own spaghetti and where to find the plant.

READERS INFO

1.

1975 -

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, a film about a group 

of patients at a mental institution, opened in theaters on 

this day in 1975. Directed by Milos Forman and based on 

a 1962 novel of the same name by Ken Kesey, the film 

starred Jack Nicholson and was co-produced by the

actor Michael Douglas. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest 

went on to become the first film in four decades to win in 

all five of the major Academy Award categories: Best Actor 

(Nicholson’s first win), Best Actress (Louise Fletcher, who 

played Nurse Ratchet), Best Director, Best Screenplay 

(Adapted) and Best Picture.

2.

Nov 20, 1947 -

The future Queen Elizabeth II married Philip Mountbatten at Westminster Abbey.

3.

Nov 21, 1931 -

The horror classic Frankenstein, based on a stage adaptation of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's 1818 novel, was released in the United States, and it helped make the hulking monster, who was portrayed by Boris Karloff, one of the most recognizable characters in film history.

4.

Coronavirus Style by Sylvia, CAN DO Correspondent

Ellenesque Felted Bowl knitting pattern

PATTERN BOOK FRIDAY

Crochet Christmas Ornaments - 6 Designs

COFFEE

thanks, Ella

PICTURES OF THE DAY

Pines are mostly monoecious, having the male and female cones on the same tree, though a few species are sub-dioecious with individuals predominantly, but not wholly, single-sex. The male cones are small, typically 1-5 cm long, falling as soon as they have shed their pollen. The larger female cones, such as this Monterey Pine cone, are typically 3-60 cm long, having numerous spirally arranged scales with two seeds on each fertile scale.

The Grove (USA)

Yachats, Oregon. On a misty winter day in the Cummins Creek Wilderness, a grove of red alders. The trunks were covered with a mosaic of crustose lichens and draped with mosses. One tree had died and lost its bark, revealing the red wood beneath and the reason for the trees’ name. The trunks were set against a backdrop of spruce and hemlock. 

knit .. Christmas
thanks, Grace

Advent Garland pattern by Frankie Brown

knit
thanks, Helen

Cloudy Sunset Beret

knit

Pick A Pocket Cozy

Love and Liquor pattern by General Hogbuffer

knit .. Christmas

Rainbow Festive Star pattern by Amanda Berry

KNIT PATTERNS OF THE DAY

thanks, Valerie, Canadian Correspondent

Folkways Christmas Stocking

Super Chunky Cable Blanket

crochet .. Christmas
thanks, Gabby

Santa pattern by Patti

crochet
thanks, Clara

Skate Away

crochet

Crochet Cardigan

crochet

Dune Bag

crochet .. Chanukah

Hanukkah Square pattern by Ilene Stacey King

RECIPE

thanks, Shelley, New York Food Correspondent

Oven-Roasted Chicken Shawarma Recipe

PANTRY RECIPE

thanks, Debbie

A Rich & Hearty Crock-Pot Beef Ragu Recipe

CROCKPOT RECIPE

thanks, Stacy

Coconut Milk–Braised Chicken

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, Alice

Vegan Lemon Butter Whole Roasted Cauliflower

COPYCAT RECIPE 

thanks, Jenny

Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli Soup in a Crock Pot (Copycat) Recipe

RETRO RECIPE

thanks, Ann

Bar-B-Qued Weiners

SWEETS RECIPE .. Chanukah

This sweet yeast bread is eaten during Hanukkah, and while the original recipe was created in Poland or Ukraine from leftover challah bread dough with raisins, almonds, and orange peel, you’re more likely to see chocolate and cinnamon versions at your supermarket or bakery. While they’re traditionally made with oil instead of butter to keep it pareve (a Jewish term that describes food without animal or dairy ingredients), it’s more common to find butter-packed versions this time of year.

Babka Basics

COOKBOOK FRIDAY

Dixie Homemade Holidays Thanksgiving Cookbook

ADULT COLORING

FUN

thanks, Lila

Can You Spot the Camouflaged Snake?

Stumped on the above photo? Look right in the center for a sign of scales.

CRAFTS

thanks, Kathy

DIY Gilded Gemstone Napkin Rings

CHILDREN'S CORNER

thanks, Patty

ACROSS

1.	A chickadee wears a black - - - on its head.
4.	This household pet sometimes climbs trees after birds.
6.	What bird lives in the meadow and has a clear, sweet song?
7.	This European bird is like our crow.
9.	There are four speckled eggs - - the nest.
10.	The mother bird sits - - the eggs.
11.	What bird goes "whoo, whoo" at night?
13.	This flies, but it is not a bird. It lives in a hive.
15.	This looks like a bird when it flies, but it is not a bird.
18.	A tiny bird whose wings make a soft, buzzing sound.

DOWN

1.	This bird says its name.
2.	A small, black-and-white sea bird with long wings.
3.	A peacock can spread its tail like a - - -.
5.	What sound does a pigeon make?
6.	Part of a tree birds perch on.
8.	The cardinal has a top - - - - on his head.
12.	This little songbird often builds its nest near a house.
14.	A graceful shade tree where some birds nest.
16.	An exclamation of delight when you see a pretty bird.
17.	A boy named - - has a canary.

PUZZLE

Butterfly WN Jigsaw Puzzle

WORD SEARCH

another bonus brush drain effort evade

farce feel field flake flatter ideal itself

janitor night notification number plate

refund regret seize setting shift shoot stack swing

temperature tire torch trash vixen whole yacht

SUDOKU .. 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 Habits Are Holding You Back From Success?

QUOTE

thanks, Bev

CLEVER 

thanks, Mary

How to Freeze Pomegranate Seeds

René Magritte

EYE OPENER .. tonight

The longest partial lunar eclipse seen in centuries.

Check if you have clear skies tonight because we are in for a super-rare treat! The Full Moon will be passing through Earth's shadow, resulting in a partial lunar eclipse unlike anything seen in hundreds of years.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all. -Peter Drucker, management consultant, professor, and writer (19 Nov 1909-2005)

OPTICAL ILLUSION

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