Ice Needles!

How "cool" is Minnesota? So cool that a phenomenon called, "ice needles," occurred. Check it out:
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/cool-ice-needles-beach-minnesota-145517702.html?vp=1

Lover's Day and World Book Day

I love Barcelona/Catalonia even more. Today is "Lovers' Day" and "World Book Day," or La Diada de San Jordi (St. Georges Day). It is the largest festival and a widely celebrated day in Barcelona. It is to celebrate love and literacy. People give books and roses to loved one on this day in Barcelona. It's similar to Valentines Day in the US, but it focuses on intelligence not just lovey dovey stuff.

Apparently, St. George killed a dragon to save a princess and out of the dragon's blood a rose bush blossomed. He picked the most beautiful of roses from the bush and gave it to the princess. This the reason roses are the favored flower to give on this day and Valentine's day.

World Book Day began in the 20th Century and commemorates the simultaneous deaths of Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare in 1616. More than 4 million roses and half a million books are sold on this day in Catalonia.

Kitties with Thumbs

Cats with thumbs, or extra digits, are called polydactyl and the writer, Ernest Hemingway, had many of them. That is why polydactyl cats are often called, "Hemingway Kitties."

This baby cat has 6 little piggies on each paw... count 'em!

HAPPY EARTH DAY!! and first day of spring with 

snow on my car this morning!

Siberians - My Max

My favoritest cat was Maximus. I named him after I saw the movie, Gladiator, because though my Maximus was itty-bitty and I had to bottle feed him - he was big and bad in loving me! I loved him so much and miss him toooo much. His breed, the Siberian, is where all long haired kitties originated from.

Shortest Sentence

The shortest complete sentence in the English language is: I am.

Chicken!

I am not chicken of chickens, BUT I had no idea there were more chickens in the world than people! That's scary! How is that possible with all the chicken I have eaten in my lifetime!?

Weight... Wait!

A pound of steel a pound of feathers are the same weight, but WAIT: the quantity to have a pound of each of these is what makes it look like one weighs more than the other!

306th Birthday

Today is a major birthday IF the man was still alive! Mr. Leonard Euler introduced the world to the most modern mathematical terminology and would have been 306 years old today! Google honored him with a doodle that moves. Here is the static one:














For more information on Mr. Euler click on the link below:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/apr/15/leonhard-euler-honoured-google-doodle

It's also tax day AND supposedly certain establishments give freebies! http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Saving-Money/2013/0415/Tax-Day-freebies-Curly-fries-Cinnabon-and-document-shredding

Underwater Sonic Boom!

The Mantis Shrimp is "wonderfully and fearfully made." (Psalm 139) I learned at church today that the Mantis Shrimp uses is two claws as protection by being able to punch faster than the speed of sound! It can crack open an oyster shell with a "whack! whack!" of those claws! ALSO, they can see sooooo many more colors than humans because of the rods in their eyes giving them the capability to see so much better and more vividly!

JC Penney

On this day in 1902, JC Penney opened his first store in Kemmerer, WY.

Happy Birthday!

Today in 1947 David Letterman was born, and a short 3 years later my crush, David Cassidy, from The Partridge Family, was born. Two Davids, same birthday = crazy! I think I may have liked David's brother Shaun better! "Da Do Ron Ron Ron, Da Do Ron Ron!" This whole time I thought he was singing, "da do RUN RUN RUN, da do RUN RUN!!"

Play Ball!

On this day in 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American in modern major-league baseball.

AND a movie about this comes out tomorrow!

Safely Pin It

The Walter Hunt Safety Pin of 1849 - The Sewalot

On this day in 1849, the safety pin was patented by Walter Hunt and he sold the rights for a mere $400.00!

Mae West's debut

On this day in 1828, Mae West debuted in NYC in the daring, new play, Diamond Lil.

Venus on a Shell?

On this day in 1820, the Venus de Milo was
discovered on the Aegean Island of Melos.

Booker T. Washington

On this day in 1940, education pioneer Booker Taliferro Washington,
was the first black to appear on a stamp.

Cartoons!

On this date in 1906, the first animated cartoon was copyrighted.

Refreshing "Water"

Helen Keller's amazing teacher, Anne Sullivan, teaches Helen the sign for "water" on this date in 1887.

"Can't Buy Me Love"

On this day in 1964 the Beatles' single, "Can't Buy Me Love," goes #1 and stays #1 for 5 weeks!

April and July

April starts on the same day of the week as July in ALL years!

April's Name

There is uncertainty of how this month got its name. It has been suggested that it may come from the Roman word, Aprillis, meaning, "to open." OR it may come from Aphrodite, the Greek name for the goddess of love.

April's Fools

In 16th century France the new year was celebrated on April 1st. Then in 1562 Pope Gregory decided the new year needed to be wrung in on January 1st. The people thought he was kidding and since then jokes and the like commemorate the 1st of April and are known to have the saying, "April's Fool!" bellowed when the trick goes over well.