The violin is easily the most popular bowed string instrument across the world, and we’re really not all that surprised to see that the violin does in fact have a day dedicated to its existence. After all, everything from Western and Indian classical music to bluegrass and jazz would be unimaginable today without the violin. It’s quite possibly the most versatile instrument in the world in terms of repertoire, and that’s why there’s a Violin Day to celebrate it!
The violin itself evolved from medieval fiddles, and came into a distinct form by the 15th century (most violins today are copies after either Stradivarius or Amati, the latter being active as a violin-maker in the 16th century), becoming the most popular virtuoso instrument in Europe by the 1660s. Today, the violin not only remains an indispensable feature of western classical music, but has found its way into various forms of classical and folk music around the world as well as various other genres. There are a lot of violinists and fiddle players throughout the world today, so it we can see why Violin Day caught on. In fact, the violin is present in the most prestigious musical groups in the world, including the Venetian Philharmonic Orchestra! Imagine an instrument with such humble beginnings becoming such an important mainstay of modern classical music.
Word of the Day
| |||
| Definition: | (verb) To be pervaded by something unpleasant. | ||
| Synonyms: | smack, smell | ||
| Usage: | His speeches reek of sarcasm. | ||
Idiom of the Day
on the leading edge— Having or knowledgeable of the most advanced technology in a given area, activity, or endeavor. |
History
Chinese River Dolphin Declared Functionally Extinct (2006)
Found only in China's Yangtze River, the baiji was a pale, nearly blind freshwater dolphin species nicknamed the "Goddess of the Yangtze." Though it had lived there for millennia, its population declined precipitously in the late 20th century as an industrialized China made heavy use of the river. Many were injured by fishing gear and boat propellers. The species was finally declared functionally extinct after a six-week search failed to locate any baiji.
Ella Baker (1903)
Though Baker was not as well known as some of the other leaders of the US civil rights movement, she spent more than 50 years as a behind-the-scenes activist. Baker grew up in rural North Carolina listening to her grandmother's stories about slavery. After college, she moved to New York City and became involved in social justice activism. She worked with student groups, political organizations, and religious coalitions to facilitate collective action
St. Lucy's Day
According to tradition, St. Lucy, or Santa Lucia, was born in Syracuse, Sicily, in the third or fourth century. Her day is widely celebrated in Sweden as Luciadagen, which marks the official beginning of the Christmas season. It is traditional to observe Luciadagen by dressing the oldest daughter in the family in a white robe tied with a crimson sash. Candles are set into her crown, which is covered with lingonberry leaves. The "Lucia Bride" wakens each member of the household on the morning of December 13 with a tray of coffee and special saffron buns or ginger cookies.
Narwhal escape: Whales freeze and flee when frightened
Scientists who fitted heart rate-monitoring tags to Arctic narwhals have discovered a strange paradox in how the animals respond to threats.READ MORE:
Whales freeze and flee when frightened
1636 - The United States National Guard was created when militia regiments were organized by the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
1642 - New Zealand was discovered by Dutch navigator Abel Tasman.
1769 - Dartmouth College, in New Hampshire, received its charter. Hi, Heide and Pete and all the pups!
1883 - The border between Ontario and Manitoba was established.
1884 - Percy Everitt received a patent for the first coin-operated weighing machine
1913 - It was announced by authorities in Florence, Italy, that the "Mona Lisa" had been recovered. The work was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris in 1911.
1918 - U.S. President Wilson arrived in France, becoming the first chief executive to visit a European country while holding office.
1928 - George Gershwin's musical work "An American in Paris" was premiered by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
1961 - Anna Mary Robertson Moses, "Grandma Moses," passed away at the age of 101.
1961 - The Beatles signed with manager Brian Epstein.
1978 - The Philadelphia Mint began stamping the Susan B. Anthony U.S. dollar. The coin began circulation the following July.
1989 - South African President F.W. de Klerk met for the first time with imprisoned African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela, at de Klerk's office in Cape Town.
If You Were Born Today, December 13
You are a very versatile person with an adventurous spirit, yet you have a very grounded outlook and a practical streak. Material success is likely in your life time, as you are hard-working and proud. As well, you are filled with ideas, and they’re usually quite marketable! A true problem solver, you love to find answers and help others to do so as well. There is a distinctly private element to your love life. You are often attracted to all that is forbidden. Famous people born today: Jamie Foxx, Ted Nugent, Dick Van Dyke, Christopher Plummer, Cathy Rigby, Taylor Swift, Steve Buscemi.
READERS INFO
1. Celestial Event
thanks, Shelley
Starting December 13
The Geminids meteor shower will peak
Starting in the evening of Dec. 13 through the next day’s dawn, you might be able to catch a glimpse of the Geminids meteor shower. The Geminids is the king of the meteor showers. It is considered by many to be the best shower in the heavens, producing up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by debris left behind by an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon, which was discovered in 1982. The shower runs annually from December 7-17. It peaks this year on the night of the 13th and morning of the 14th. The waning crescent moon will be no match for the Geminids this year. The skies should still be dark enough for an excellent show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Gemini, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
Learn more about the major meteor showers and how to watch them here.
1956 -
Jackie Robinson was traded to the New York Giants for Dick Littlefield and $30,000. Unbeknownst to both teams, Robinson had already decided to retire from baseball. His retirement was officially announced in the Jan. 22, 1957 issue of Look magazine.
Robinson served as an officer in the United States Army from 1942 to 1944. He was court-martialed in 1944 for charges that stemmed from his refusal to move to the back of a segregated bus, but was acquitted of all charges. After being honorably discharged from the army, Robinson played baseball with the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro League. At that time, baseball was racially segregated.
In 1945, Robinson signed a contract to play for the Montreal Royals, a minor league farm team for the Dodgers. Later, Robinson signed a contract to play baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers. On April 15, 1947, Robinson played his first game at Ebbets Field, making Robinson the first black major league baseball player since the 1880s. During his first year, Robinson hit 12 home runs, stole 29 bases, and received the Rookie of the Year award. The Brooklyn Dodgers won the National League pennant that year.
Throughout his career, Robinson would be named as an All Star for six seasons, and would steal a total of 197 bases. He played in six World Series including the Dodgers' 1955 win. Robinson won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1949. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962 -- the first African-American to be inducted. In 1972, the Dodgers retired his uniform. Robinson died on Oct. 24, 1972, but his legacy continued. In 1997, Jackie Robinson's memory was honored with Major League Baseball retiring his number, No. 42, throughout the Major League. Major League baseball players already playing under that number when the honor was bestowed on Robinson were allowed to keep it. Major League baseball has also honored Robinson for breaking the color barrier by introducing Jackie Robinson Day on April 15, 2004, in which all players, coaches and managers wore No. 42. Jackie Robinson Day has since been celebrated annually.
3.
The first Susan B. Anthony dollars were struck at the Philadelphia Mint on December 13, 1978. First strikes at the Denver and San Francisco Mints followed on January 9, 1979 and January 29, respectively. Mint officials feared that the coins would be hoarded upon release, so they ordered the creation of a stockpile consisting of 500 million coins prior to the release date in July 1979. They were minted until 1981, when the series was halted due to poor public reception and again in 1999.
Susan Brownell Anthony (February 15, 1820 – March 13, 1906)
Susan B. Anthony was an American social reformer and women’s rights activist who played a pivotal role in the women’s suffrage movement.
Pictures of the day
A Daruma doll (Japanese: 達磨) is a hollow, round, traditional Japanese dollmodeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen tradition of Buddhism. These dolls, though typically red and depicting a bearded man (Dharma), vary greatly in color and design depending on region and artist. Though considered an omocha, meaning toy, by some, Daruma has a design that is rich in symbolism and is regarded more as a talisman of good luck to the Japanese. They are seen as symbols of perseverance and good luck, making them a popular gift of encouragement.
ARCTIC REFLECTION
It is difficult to get a sense of purity and calm in our modern hectic world, unless you are in Arctic, watching icebergs floating by… reflection of an iceberg (about 100-120m tall), Scoresby Sound, Greenland ’17
knit, Christmas
thanks, Helen
knit
thanks, Eve
knit
Brioche Vest
knit
knit, Christmas ornament
crochet, Christmas
thanks, Ava
crochet
thanks, Gabby
crochet
TATE SCARF
crochet, Christmas ornament
RECIPE
thanks, Sam
CROCKPOT RECIPE
SWEETS ... Christmas
thanks, Beth


ADULT COLORING ... Christmas
CRAFTS ... Christmas sewing
thanks, Emma
CHILDREN'S CORNER ... Christmas
PUZZLE
Pink String Ribbon Jigsaw Puzzle
WORD SEARCH
| advice agent amass another beach better | check cling coast contest deep discard enjoy enter exalt | favor groove heart huddle least | memories might modify pride purse reader right sets syndication | teat tend theater threw till train trying update widest |
SUDOKU ... medium
solution:
QUOTE
CLEVER
EYE OPENER
Cauliflower Facts
|
Interesting Cauliflower Facts:
|
|---|
| Cauliflower can grow from 8 to 30 inches both in height and width. |
Cauliflower develops large and coarse leaves that are green in color. They grow in the form of rosette. Leaves surround stalk which holds centrally positioned large, white head.
|
| White head looks like a miniature tree on the cross section. It consists of densely packed curds. Head is usually 6 inches wide and has 2 to 3 pounds of weight in large varieties of cauliflower. Head consists of central stalk which branches and holds undeveloped flower buds. |
Leaves ensure development of white head. Without leaves, bunch of inedible yellow flowers would appear.
 |
| Color of the head depends on the variety. Most common type of cauliflower is white, but it can be also purchased in green, purple, orange, brown and yellow color. |
Green variety is known as broccoflower because it looks like broccoli. One type of green cauliflowers develops spiky instead of round curds. This variety of cauliflower is known as Romanesco broccoli.
 |
| Cauliflower belongs to the group of cruciferous vegetables. They are named that way because they have flowers that consist of four petals which grow in the shape of Greek cross. |
Cauliflower develops from seeds and tissue transplants.
|
| Depending on the variety, it takes from 50 to 265 days from planting of the seed to the harvest. Cauliflower is harvested when it reaches expected size and texture. |
Cauliflower is an excellent source of dietary fibers, vitamins C, K and vitamins of the B group and minerals such as manganese, potassium and magnesium. Cauliflower has low caloric value and can be used as a substitute for rice and potato.
 |
| Cauliflowers can be eaten raw, cooked or pickled. |
| Prolonged cooking destroys majority of vitamins and it is associated with bad, sulfur-like smell of cauliflower. Cooking of 30 or more minutes decreases health benefits of cauliflower for 75%. |
Medical studies revealed that substances isolated from cauliflower can prevent development of certain types of cancer.
|
| China is the greatest manufacturer of cauliflowers in the world. |
Cauliflower is an annual plant which means that it completes its life cycle in one year.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment