DIANE'S CORNER ... Celebrate Opposite Day

Image result for Celebrate Opposite Day

Opposite Day is the worst day for not saying anything to the people far away from you. You can’t have fun today, as nothing is allowed and nobody wants to have fun with you. Of course, on Opposite Day, all of that means the opposite! It’s the best day to talking to the people close to you, having fun is the absolute most important thing you can do, and everyone is going to want in on it! Opposite Day may be infuriating for some, but it can be the best (worst?) fun you’ll have all year!

Opposite Day is particularly popular among children, who enjoy the kind of absurdity that can happen when everything you say is backwards. This kind of thing can open the mind to some incredibly diverse ways of thinking, and its stimulating trying to keep up with everyone saying the opposite of what they actually mean. The more cynical of us may wonder how this is any different from the rest of the year.

Opposite Day requires mental dexterity, a quick wit, and the ability to pick words we may not use every day out of the cobwebbed recesses of our brain. Not only that, but some of the things we may be overheard saying to our friends and coworkers may be nothing short of outrageous! Be careful though, you want to make sure the people you’re talking to know its Opposite Day, or you may wind up hurting someone’s feelings.

Opposite Day has shown up in a lot of different forms of media, from Spongebob Squarepants, where Spongebob uses the nature of the day to try to prevent his neighbors from stopping the sale of his house, to the Grim Adventures of Bill & Mandy where they celebrated the madness of this very special day, and tried to remain sane through it all!

You can tell people what a nice night it is when you actually mean what a nice day it is, and tell them that you’ll see them yesterday when you leave for the night! Opposite Day is a terrible.. I mean great… I mean terrible time for everyone!

thanks for 'contenders of the Darwinian awards,' Sylvia

Word of the Day

blacking

Definition:

(noun) A preparation, such as a shoe or stove polish, that is used to impart a black color.

Synonyms:

shoe polish

Usage:

I let a bottle of blacking fall over his new dress, and he flew at me sword in hand, so that I was obliged to make my escape.

Idiom of the Day

horse-trade

— To negotiate, trade, or bargain in a shrewd, judicious manner. Primarily heard in US.

History

First Emmy Awards for Excellence in Television (1949)

The Emmy Awards are given for outstanding achievement in US television. They are presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which was founded in 1946 and which held the first award ceremony in 1949. Its members vote on outstanding programs, actors, directors, and writers in such categories as drama, comedy, and variety. The Emmy's name is taken from the nickname "immy" for the image orthicon, a television camera tube.

Govert Teuniszoon Flinck (1615)

A student of Rembrandt, Flinck was a Dutch painter who is remembered mainly for his numerous portraits, many of which are held in the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam. Among his most famous works is the Blessing of Jacob, one of his many religious subjects. However, Flinck was also known for painting scenes from history, such as the Peace of Münster, which illustrates the famous treaty with 19 life-size figures. Flinck even painted his own likeness in the canvas.

Burns Night

Burns Night is the anniversary of the birthday of Scottish poet Robert Burns. The day is celebrated not only in Scotland but also in Newfoundland, and wherever there are devotees of this lusty poet. The celebrations generally take the form of recitations of Burns's poetry, the imbibing of quantities of single-malt Scotch whiskey, and the serving of haggis, a Scottish dish made of a sheep's or calf's innards (liver, heart, etc.) boiled in its stomach. At the point of the carving of the haggis, it is traditional to recite "To a Haggis," with its line, "Great chieftain o' the pudding race!"

Can Burnt Toast and Roasted Potatoes Cause Cancer?

The Food Standards Agency in the UK launched a campaign Monday to warn about cancer risks linked to eating burnt toast, over-roasted potatoes and other starchy foods cooked at high temperatures.

READ MORE:

Starchy foods, such as bread and potatoes, can produce high levels of the compound acrylamide if cooked at high temperatures and for too long. This compound is what makes these foods golden in color. If overly cooked, they become brown, or black, resulting in excess levels of acrylamide and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4164905/" target="_blank">previous studies in mice</a> have linked acrylamide to cancer risk.

Can burnt toast and roasted potatoes cause cancer?

Image result for 1799 - Eliakim Spooner patented the seeding machine.

1799 - Eliakim Spooner patented the seeding machine.

Image result for 1858 - Mendelssohn’s "Wedding March" was presented for the first time at the wedding of the daughter of Queen Victoria and the Crown Prince of Prussia.

Image result for 1858 - Mendelssohn’s "Wedding March" was presented for the first time at the wedding of the daughter of Queen Victoria and the Crown Prince of Prussia.

1858 - Mendelssohn’s "Wedding March" was presented for the first time at the wedding of the daughter of Queen Victoria and the Crown Prince of Prussia.

Image result for 1870 - G.D. Dows patented the ornamental soda fountain.

Image result for 1870 - G.D. Dows patented the ornamental soda fountain.

1870 - G.D. Dows patented the ornamental soda fountain.

Image result for 1924 - The 1st Winter Olympic Games were inaugurated in Chamonix in the French Alps.

Image result for 1924 - The 1st Winter Olympic Games were inaugurated in Chamonix in the French Alps.

1924 - The 1st Winter Olympic Games were inaugurated in Chamonix in the French Alps.

Image result for 1937 - NBC radio presented the first broadcast of "The Guiding Light." The show remained on radio until 1956 and began on CBS-TV in 1952.

Image result for 1937 - NBC radio presented the first broadcast of "The Guiding Light." The show remained on radio until 1956 and began on CBS-TV in 1952.

1937 - NBC radio presented the first broadcast of "The Guiding Light." The show remained on radio until 1956 and began on CBS-TV in 1952.

Image result for 1958 - Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" became the first single to ever enter the U.K. pop chart at Number One.

Image result for 1958 - Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" became the first single to ever enter the U.K. pop chart at Number One.

1958 - Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock" became the first single to ever enter the U.K. pop chart at Number One.

Image result for 1959 - In the U.S., American Airlines had the first scheduled transcontinental flight of a Boeing 707.

Image result for 1959 - In the U.S., American Airlines had the first scheduled transcontinental flight of a Boeing 707.

1959 - In the U.S., American Airlines had the first scheduled transcontinental flight of a Boeing 707.

Image result for 1961 - John F. Kennedy presented the first live presidential news conference from Washington, DC. The event was carried on radio and television.

Image result for 1961 - John F. Kennedy presented the first live presidential news conference from Washington, DC. The event was carried on radio and television.

1961 - John F. Kennedy presented the first live presidential news conference from Washington, DC. The event was carried on radio and television.

Image result for 1999 - In Louisville, KY, man received the first hand transplant in the United States.

Image result for 1999 - In Louisville, KY, man received the first hand transplant in the United States.

1999 - In Louisville, KY, man received the first hand transplant in the United States.

Image result for 2010 - In Arlington, TX, the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame had its grand opening.

2010 - In Arlington, TX, the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame had its grand opening.

DAILY SQU-EEK

If You Were Born Today, January 25

You have tremendous insight into others' character and motivations. A little mysterious yourself, you need time to retreat and refresh your spirit frequently. You don't always feel understood, but you are also complicated and don't always let others in! However, you thrive in partnership. Your nature is a dual one, and you may hold down two different jobs as well. You are attracted to strong and determined people. With intellect and intuition equally strong, you are a highly interesting and intelligent friend. Famous people born today: Alicia Keys, Robert Burns, W. Somerset Maugham, Virginia Woolf.

READERS INFO

one of my favorite sites on the internet is freecycle.org.

freecycle.org is a FREE website you sign up with in the community nearest you. its efforts are all to connect people looking to get rid of all types of things (appliances, furniture, toys, books, bric a brac, etc), with people who need certain items. this international organization keeps belongings out of landfills and puts it in the hands of those who truly need or want the items you no longer want to keep!

there are only two things to do when it comes to freecycle .. put out emails to the group that

either OFFER or WANT things. then it's between you two to make arrangements for pick up. after that, i always send a thank you note so everyone knows the item is no longer being offered.

2. thanks, elaine

Pictures of the day

The Sumela Monastery is a Greek Orthodox monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the Maçka district of Trabzon Province, Turkey. Nestled in a steep cliff at an altitude of about 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) facing the Altındere valley, it is a site of great historical and cultural significance, as well as a major tourist attraction within Altındere National Park.

Crows on Snow

Forensic Evidence Division Criminalist Walker Berg of the Portland Police took this amazing photo from the 12th floor of the Justice Center

knit
thanks, Marcy

Mad Mix Socks pattern by Virpi Tarvo



				Mad Mix Socks pattern by Virpi Tarvo This pattern is for warm-up for Sock Madness 10. It is mix of many things. It combines carefully chosen pieces of Sock Madness patterns from previous yea...

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knit

Hearts and Hounds Hat pattern by Maria Do Souto

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One Sheepish Girl | Yarn Ball Wall Garland Tutorial

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thanks, Judith

Linus pattern by Annett Cordes



				Linus pattern by Annett Cordes Ein sehr einfach zu strickendes asymmetrisches Dreiecktuch aus 100g Wolle, das auch gut als Schal funktioniert. Jedes Garn mit ca. 200m LL/ 50g ist dafür...

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knit - VALENTINE'S DAY

Valentine Heart Doily pattern by Nazanin S. Fard



				Valentine Heart Doily pattern by Nazanin S. Fard Knit this beauty for Valentine’s Day, but enjoy it any time of the year! The elegant spiral center is surrounded by a border of lacy eyelet hearts and finished...

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crochet

Mexican sunset cushion pattern by sarah star



				Mexican sunset cushion pattern by sarah star Creative Cotton Aran by Rico Design Aran / 10 ply 100% Cotton 93 yards / 50 grams average rating from 503 votes 3304 projects stashed 2577 times

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Sparkle Ruby Hat pattern by Kinga Erdem



				Sparkle Ruby Hat pattern by Kinga Erdem The Sparkle Ruby Hat was designed to match the Sparkle Ruby Cowl so you can complete a beautiful set.

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