The Color of the Year for 2009 was "Mimosa".
Dec 31, 2009
Color of the Year 2010
Turquoise. Pantone has announced their selection for Color of the Year for 2010, and the winner is Turquoise. Turqouise, according to the color mavens, "evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of well being.”
Real turquoise (the mineral) was treasured in antiquity for "natural protection against the powers of darkness" and derives its name from the custom of the Turks to wear one in their turbans to ward off the "evil eye".
The Color of the Year for 2009 was "Mimosa".
The Color of the Year for 2009 was "Mimosa".
Language
There are an estimated 6,500 languages in the world and half or more of them could cease to exist by 2100.
Languages are dying out around the globe through globalization, social change, and a shift in populations from rural areas to cities. Of the 6,500 languages estimated to be still in use, only 11 are spoken by half the world's population, and 95 percent of the languages are spoken by less than five percent of the global population.
A new project, the World Oral Literature Project, by the University of Cambridge's Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, aims to preserve the linguistic diversity being lost. The project is recording and documenting languages that face the prospect of dying out, with the goal of preserving their poems, chants, stories, and anything else that can be recorded. This is somewhat like the Rosetta Stone Project, which began about ten years ago and that has documented 2,500 languages for the same purpose.
The language used by most people is Chinese Mandarin, followed by English and Spanish. The language spoken by most countries is English, followed by French, then Spanish.
1.5 billion people speak Chinese, 1 billion plus speak English, and about 500 million speak Spanish. English is spoken in more countries than any other language.
English is a West Germanic language that developed in England during the Anglo-Saxon era. It has become common as a result of the military, economic, scientific, political, and cultural influence of the British Empire during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, and of the United States since the mid 20th century. All y'all listen up?
Languages are dying out around the globe through globalization, social change, and a shift in populations from rural areas to cities. Of the 6,500 languages estimated to be still in use, only 11 are spoken by half the world's population, and 95 percent of the languages are spoken by less than five percent of the global population.
A new project, the World Oral Literature Project, by the University of Cambridge's Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, aims to preserve the linguistic diversity being lost. The project is recording and documenting languages that face the prospect of dying out, with the goal of preserving their poems, chants, stories, and anything else that can be recorded. This is somewhat like the Rosetta Stone Project, which began about ten years ago and that has documented 2,500 languages for the same purpose.
The language used by most people is Chinese Mandarin, followed by English and Spanish. The language spoken by most countries is English, followed by French, then Spanish.
1.5 billion people speak Chinese, 1 billion plus speak English, and about 500 million speak Spanish. English is spoken in more countries than any other language.
English is a West Germanic language that developed in England during the Anglo-Saxon era. It has become common as a result of the military, economic, scientific, political, and cultural influence of the British Empire during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, and of the United States since the mid 20th century. All y'all listen up?
US and GDP Equivalents
Kwanzaa
The relatively new holiday Kwanza was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach. He saw it as a way to bring African-Americans together as a community. He combined aspects of several different harvest celebrations, such as those of the Ashanti and those of the Zulu. The name was derived from a phrase that means 'first fruits.' Later the second "A" was later added to make 7 letters to coincide with the seven candles he decided should be lit for the holidays.
Kwanzaa is a non-religious African-American holiday which celebrates family, community, and culture. Celebrations often include songs and dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and a large traditional meal. On each of the seven nights, the family gathers and a child lights one of the candles. It is celebrated for seven days: December 26 - January 1.
Kwanzaa is a non-religious African-American holiday which celebrates family, community, and culture. Celebrations often include songs and dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and a large traditional meal. On each of the seven nights, the family gathers and a child lights one of the candles. It is celebrated for seven days: December 26 - January 1.
New Year Bacon
Took this quote and picture from Life Magazine Jan 1, 1940.
"Frank Sinatra Ate Bacon When He Was Young. That Proves Bacon is Cool." I didn't make this one up folks.
"Frank Sinatra Ate Bacon When He Was Young. That Proves Bacon is Cool." I didn't make this one up folks.
Dec 24, 2009
Christmas Wishes
Your friendship is a glowing ember through the year; and each December from its warm and living spark we kindle a flame against the dark, and with its shining radiance light our tree on Christmas eve.
Holiday Town Names
Place names associated with the holiday season include North Pole, Alaska (population 2,212 in 2008); Santa Claus, IN (2,314); Santa Claus, GA (250); Noel, MO (1,608); the village of Rudolph, WI (412) and Dasher, GA (849). There is Snowflake, AZ (5,673) and a dozen places named Holly, including Holly Springs, MS, Mount Holly, NC, and Holly, MI.
Christmas Thoughts
"On Christmas Eve all animals can speak." However, it is bad luck to test this superstition.
"The child born on Christmas Day will have a special fortune." My Aunt Marion was born on Christmas, 1908. She was special. Also, 25th December 1642, Sir Isaac Newton was born. He found white light could be split into the colors of the Rainbow.
Wearing new shoes on Christmas Day will bring bad luck.
Good luck will come to the home where a fire is kept burning throughout the Christmas season.
If a girl raps at the hen house door on Christmas Eve and a rooster crows, she will marry within the year.
A mild December precedes a cold snap later in the winter.
A green December fills the graveyard
A clear star-filled sky on Christmas Eve will bring good crops in the summer.
If sun shines through the apple trees upon a Christmas Day, when autumn comes they will a load of fruit display.
Snow on Christmas means Easter will be green.
A green Christmas; a white Easter.
If Christmas day be bright and clear there will be two winters in the year.
The nearer the New Moon to Christmas Day, the harder the Winter.
"The child born on Christmas Day will have a special fortune." My Aunt Marion was born on Christmas, 1908. She was special. Also, 25th December 1642, Sir Isaac Newton was born. He found white light could be split into the colors of the Rainbow.
Wearing new shoes on Christmas Day will bring bad luck.
Good luck will come to the home where a fire is kept burning throughout the Christmas season.
If a girl raps at the hen house door on Christmas Eve and a rooster crows, she will marry within the year.
A mild December precedes a cold snap later in the winter.
A green December fills the graveyard
A clear star-filled sky on Christmas Eve will bring good crops in the summer.
If sun shines through the apple trees upon a Christmas Day, when autumn comes they will a load of fruit display.
Snow on Christmas means Easter will be green.
A green Christmas; a white Easter.
If Christmas day be bright and clear there will be two winters in the year.
The nearer the New Moon to Christmas Day, the harder the Winter.
Best Christmas Gift
Do you know what the cheapest, yet best Christmas gift is?
A smile. It is free, yet timeless and priceless.
A smile. It is free, yet timeless and priceless.
Dec 23, 2009
Christmas Facts
$410 million in sales by US Christmas tree farmers in 2007. Of those, $109.3 million were from Christmas tree farmers in Oregon in 2007.
$470.3 million in imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China between January and August 2009. China was the leading country of origin for such items.
Quotable
You can change the present (as in change the present you give), and you can also change the present of the world, by changing the kind of present you give.
Ode to Joy
This is played on a glass harp. Did you know the glass harp (or glass Armonica) was invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1761? Sit back, relax, and enjoy a minute of music HERE.
Some advice for today 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' played on another modern version HERE.
Here is a picture of an original glass armonica.
Some advice for today 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' played on another modern version HERE.
Here is a picture of an original glass armonica.
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