sandrewn

November 12th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Birth of Sun Yat-Sen, also Doctors' Day and Cultural Renaissance Day. (Republic of China) Christian feast day: Arsatius Astrik (or Anastasius) of Pannonhalma Cumméne Fota Cunibert Emilian of Cogolla Imerius of Immertal Josaphat Kuntsevych (Roman Catholic Church, Greek Catholic Church) Lebuinus (Liafwine) Livinus of Ghent Machar Margarito Flores García Nilus of Sinai Patiens René d'Angers Theodore the Studite Ymar November 12 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Constitution Day (Azerbaijan) Father's Day (Indonesia) National Health Day (Indonesia) National Youth Day (East Timor) World Pneumonia Day Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) American Fancy Rat & Mouse Day Chicken Soup for the Soul Day Day of Mourning Deepavali Diwali International Tongue Twister Day Kali Puja Lakshmi Puja Naraka Chaturdashi National French Dip Day National Nathaniel Day National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day National Pupusa Day Orphan Sunday Remembrance Sunday Sigd Day Romel Cummings’s Birthday Russell Westbrook’s Birthday Noah Wiseman’s Birthday Omarion’s Birthday NayVee Nelson’s Birthday Neil Young’s Birthday Grace Kelly’s Birthday DJ Esco’s Birthday Cuban Link’s Birthday Ryan Gosling’s Birthday Tonya Harding’s Birthday Anne Hathaway’s Birthday xQc’s Birthday Arianny Celeste’s Birthday ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sun Nov 12th, 2023 - Mon Nov 20th, 2023 Get Outdoors Week Sun Nov 12th, 2023 - Sat Nov 18th, 2023 Human-Animal Relationship Awareness Week International Fraud Awareness Week National Split Pea Soup Week Nurse Practitioner Week Perioperative Nurse Week Fun Observances Happy Hour Day November 12 is Happy Hour Day. So, on this unofficial fun holiday take advantage of happy hours at your favorite bar, cafe or restaurant. Happy hour is a term used to refer to a period of time during a day when establishments sell drinks and food at a discount. While traditionally offered by bars, restaurants today also hold happy hours and offer appetizers at reduced prices. Usually, a happy hour includes two drinks or two appetizers for the price of one. Many countries ban happy hours in bars due to the fear that it will encourage binge drinking and alcoholism. How to Celebrate? Happy Happy Hour Day! Here are some ways to celebrate this fun holiday: Go out for happy hour with your friends and co-workers and get two of your favorite beverages for the price of one. Remember to always drink responsibly. Don't drink? That doesn't mean you can't enjoy happy hour. Many restaurants and coffee shops have happy hour prices on appetizers and hors-d'oeuvre. Enjoy these while sipping a non-alcoholic beverage. Did You Know… …that the happy hour began as an event in the military? It is believed that the term comes from events organized by a club called the Happy Hour Social for the United States Navy in 1913. *** On Thanksgiving day, a little boy overhears his mom and dad fighting. He hears his mom call his dad a bastard and hears his dad call his mom a bitch. He asks, "Mommy, what does bastard mean?" She answers, "Um, it means boy." Then he asks, "Daddy, what does bitch mean?" He says, "Uh, it means girl." Later that day, the boy sees his father in the bathroom shaving; the dad accidentally cuts himself and says, "Sh*t." The son asks, "What does that mean?" The dad says, "It means shaving cream." Then he sees his mom in the kitchen carving the turkey; she accidentally cuts herself and says, "F*ck." The son asks her what that word means and she says, "It means carving." That evening, the family's guests arrive for Thanksgiving dinner. The son opens the door to welcome them and says, "Welcome bitches and bastards! My dad is in the bathroom rubbing sh*t on his face and my mom is in the kitchen f*cking the turkey." *** Two guys are standing in line to enter heaven. One turned around and asked the other how he died. "I froze to death. How about you?" "I had a heart attack." "How did that happen?" "Well, I suspected my wife was cheating on me. So after work I went straight home. I ran upstairs to find my wife sleeping by herself. Then I ran back downstairs and looked in all the hiding spots. When I was running back up the stairs, I had a heart attack." "That's ironic." "Why?" "If you would've looked in the fridge, we'd both be alive." *** Paddy and Murphy are havin' a pint in the pub, when some scuba divers come on the TV. Paddy says, "Murphy, why is it them deep sea divers always sit on the side of the boat with them air tanks on their backs, and fall backwards out of the boat?" Murphy thinks for a minute then says, "That's easy. It's 'cos if they fell forwards, they'd still be in the friggin boat!" *** Two old friends, Ned and John, lived for baseball. Then one day, John died, leaving Ned inconsolable. A few weeks later, Ned heard someone calling his name. He looked up. Standing on a cloud was his old pal. “Ned,” John called down, “I have good news and bad. The good news is, there’s baseball in heaven!” “Great,” said Ned. “What’s the bad news?” “You’re pitching Sunday.” *** I Guarantee that some group of idiots would try to bring it back to life if they ever find viable genetic material. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Psychedelic Jumping Australian has nothing but Eyes For You! Meet the Peacock spider - this 5mm Long showoff; raises his abdomen vertically, expands his flaps and displays them like a peacock's tail. But the brilliant colouring is not just for decoration. The peacock spider earns its name when he courts a potential mate and (Maratus volans) is a native species of Australian jumping spider. It is only the males that have this bright colouring, the females are rather a dull grey. During this Tail display the male will vibrate his raised legs and tail, while dancing from one side to one another in an attempt to impress the female. Once the dance is over the abdomen flaps are folded down close against the sides of the body, like a shawl. The little spider has excellent eyesight but with four eyes it can detect prey 20 cm away, considering its size this is quite a feat. Our little friend has many names: flying spider, gliding spider and the preferred name peacock spider. Although having volans in its name suggest the spider can fly, but it actually doesn’t use its flaps to extend the distance of its jump. After mating, the male repeats the performance and dance with other females. (I’m sure there is an Australian joke here – better not, family show) This post was updated on the 16 June 2017.

November 11th 2023 - Holidays and Observances They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. (click on the day for details) Birthday of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck (Bhutan) Children's Day (Croatia) Christian feast day: Bartholomew of Grottaferrata Martin of Tours (Roman Catholic Church), and its related observances. Menas Mercurius (Coptic) Søren Kierkegaard (Lutheran Church) Theodore the Studite November 11 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) End of World War I-related observances: Armistice Day (New Zealand, France, Belgium and Serbia) National Independence Day (Poland), commemorates the anniversary of Poland's assumption of independent statehood in 1918 Remembrance Day (United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations, including Australia and Canada) Veterans Day, called Armistice Day until 1954, when it was rededicated to honor American military (Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force) veterans. (United States) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Angola from Portugal in 1975. Independence of Cartagena (Colombia) Lāčplēsis Day, celebrates the victory over the Bermontians at the Battle of Riga in 1919. (Latvia) Opening of carnival ("Karneval"/"Fasching"), on 11-11, at 11:11. (Germany, the Netherlands, and other countries) National Education Day (India) Republic Day (Maldives) Singles' Day (China) St. Martin's Day (Sint Maarten, Kingdom of the Netherlands) Women's Day (Belgium) Pepero Day (South Korea) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Death/Duty Day National Chase Day National Indiana Day National Isabelle Day National Lei Day Metal Day National Saddle Hunting Day National Sundae Day National Timothy Day Pocky Day Puerto Princesa Underground River Day Patrick Starrr’s Birthday Vinny Guadagnino’s Birthday Leonardo DiCaprio’s Birthday Melody Holt’s Birthday Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s Birthday Leighannsays’s Birthday George S. Patton’s Birthday Ava Jules’s Birthday Emma Gonzalez’s Birthday FaZe Jarvis’s Birthday Demi Moore’s Birthday Corinne Olympios’s Birthday Barbara Boxer’s Birthday Susan Kelechi Watson’s Birthday Jacob Whitesides’s Birthday Victor Cruz’s Birthday Abigail Adams’s Birthday Richie Rich’s Birthday Fun Observances Origami Day November 11 is Origami Day. First observed in Japan, the unofficial holiday honors the ancient Japanese art of creating intricate objects and complex shapes out of square pieces of paper. Origami, which comes from the Japanese words, ori meaning folding, and kami meaning paper, originated in Japan in the 6 century, though for a long period of time the art was preserved for religious ceremonies. By the 17th century, origami had become mainstream in Japanese society and was being used for decorative and ceremonial purposes. In recent years, origami has become popular with origami societies and competitions springing up all around the world. No Instruments While traditionally origami only involves folding paper and cannot include the use of any scissors or knives, modern-day origami artists do not make any distinction between sculptures that are made just by folding paper and kirigami – a variation of origami that creates models by cutting and gluing together paper. How to Celebrate? If you have never tried origami, maybe today is the day to learn? Start with the crane - one of the most recognized origami models around the world. If you already know origami, use today to start learning a new origami technique or working on a new, complex model. Did You Know… …that Origami Day also coincides with the day in 1918 when World War One ended? *** Mr. and Mrs. Brown had two sons. One was named Mind Your Own Business & the other was named Trouble. One day the two boys decided to play hide and seek. Trouble hid while Mind Your Own Business counted to one hundred. Mind Your Own Business began looking for his brother behind garbage cans and bushes. Then he started looking in and under cars until a police man approached him and asked, "What are you doing?" "Playing a game," the boy replied. "What is your name?" the officer questioned. "Mind Your Own Business." Furious the policeman inquired, "Are you looking for trouble?!" The boy replied, "Why, yes." *** There was an elderly couple who in their old age noticed that they were getting a lot more forgetful, so they decided to go to the doctor. The doctor told them that they should start writing things down so they don't forget. They went home and the old lady told her husband to get her a bowl of ice cream. "You might want to write it down," she said. The husband said, "No, I can remember that you want a bowl of ice cream." She then told her husband she wanted a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream. "Write it down," she told him, and again he said, "No, no, I can remember: you want a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream." Then the old lady said she wants a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream and a cherry on top. "Write it down," she told her husband and again he said, "No, I got it. You want a bowl of ice cream with whipped cream and a cherry on top." So he goes to get the ice cream and spends an unusually long time in the kitchen, over 30 minutes. He comes out to his wife and hands her a plate of eggs and bacon. The old wife stares at the plate for a moment, then looks at her husband and asks, "Where's the toast?" *** Q: If you have 13 apples in one hand and 10 oranges in the other, what do you have? A: Big hands. *** Earlier this year, sports editor Robert Cessna received two e-mails from an irate reader. The first excoriated him for leaving out the fact that the Texas A&M women’s basketball team was playing that day. “We seriously need more attendance,” she wrote, “so how in the world does our local newspaper not mention that?” She wasn’t through. “There are words sufficient to show how irritated I am, but I chose not to use them.” She then signed it, “Upset Reader.” Soon after, Upset Reader sent her second e-mail: “Sorry. I was reading last week’s paper.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Hyllus Diardi jumping spider close-up I'm not sure if it needs a comb or eyebrow tweezers? Both, maybe?

November 10th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Adelin of Séez Áed mac Bricc Andrew Avellino Baudolino Elaeth Grellan Justus Lübeck martyrs Pope Leo Theoctiste Tryphena of Rome November 10 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Cry of Independence Day (Panama) Day of Remembrance of Atatürk (Turkey) Day of Russian Militsiya (Russia) Heroes Day (Indonesia) or Hari Pahlawan Martinisingen (Germany) United States Marine Corps birthday (United States) World Keratoconus Day Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Area Code Day International Accounting Day National Donor Sabbath National DTC (Direct-To-Consumer) Friday Sesame Street Day USMC Day World Immunisation Day World Science Day for Peace and Development World Top Up Day Neil Gaiman’s Birthday Michael Jai White’s Birthday Miranda Lambert’s Birthday Lilly Pulitzer’s Birthday Mackenzie Foy’s Birthday Taron Egerton’s Birthday U-God’s Birthday Eve’s Birthday Gage Deon Halterman’s Birthday Diplo’s Birthday Ellen Pompeo’s Birthday Dayna Frazer’s Birthday Corey Gamble’s Birthday Call Me Kevin’s Birthday Noelle Robinson’s Birthday John Roberts’s Birthday Steven Lim’s Birthday Josh Peck’s Birthday Brittany Murphy’s Birthday Tracy Morgan’s Birthday Big Pun’s Birthday Fun Observances (2) Forget Me Not Day November 10 is Forget Me Not Day. All of us have people in our lives that we care about but are bad about keeping in touch with. Forget Me Not Day is an unofficial holiday that encourages people to try and reconnect with all those they may not be in touch with anymore. It is not clear who created this holiday, which is also called National Forget Me Not Day in the U.S. Alzheimer's Association In New Zealand, a similar holiday called Forget Me Not Days has been observed on June 5 and 6 every year since 2003. Started by two bank insurances as a way to fun raise for the Alzheimer's Association. How to Celebrate? Try and contact your long lost friends on social media websites and get talking with them. Send them a note saying that even though you haven’t been in touch you still miss them and care about them. Send forget me not flowers to your loved ones as a way to tell them how much they mean to you. Did You Know… …that in some cultures, forget-me-not flowers are used to remember those who die in a war? ~~~~~~~~~~ Vanilla Cupcake Day November 10 is Vanilla Cupcake Day, an annual excuse to bake and consume copious amounts of the delicious dessert. The unofficial holiday is also known as National Vanilla Cupcake Day in the United States. Fairy Cakes Vanilla cupcakes are single serving cakes that are made by adding vanilla essence or extract to the cake batter and to the icing or any topping. Thought to have been invented in the US, cupcakes got their name from being baked in cup-shaped molds. In the United Kingdom, they are known as fairy cakes, while in some parts of Australia, cupcakes are called patty cakes. Second Most Expensive Spice A native plant of Mexico, vanilla is a flavor that is extracted from the seed pods of the Vanilla orchid. Considered to be one of the most expensive spices in the world, second only to saffron, it was first cultivated by the Totonac people on Mexico's eastern coast. The spice was then introduced to Europe by the Spanish in the 16th century by Spaniard, Hernán Cortés, who is also credited for bringing chocolate to Europe. Rumor has it, that it was Thomas Jefferson who brought vanilla from France to America in the late 1800s after he was treated to vanilla flavored ice cream in Paris. Until late 19th century, Mexico produced almost all of the world's vanilla. Today, however, it only produces about 10% of the total world production of the spice. Madagascar and Indonesia now produce the bulk of the world's vanilla. Plain Vanilla Despite the expense associated with it, vanilla is one of the most sought-after flavors in the world. Today, it is used in a variety of food items, including cakes, ice creams, and drinks; and products like perfumes and candles, even though it is considered to be one of the plainest flavor available – the term plain vanilla is often used to refer to things that are very basic and ordinary. How to Celebrate? Bust out your baking supplies and back some delicious vanilla cupcakes. Don't forget to share with family, friends, and co-workers. Gourmet up your vanilla cupcakes by adding bacon or bourbon or beer to the batter or the icing. Prefer chocolate instead? Just wait for 11 months, and you'll be able to celebrate Chocolate Cupcake Day on October 18. Did You Know… ...that vanilla is the only fruit-bearing and edible orchid in the world? *** Teacher: "Kids, what does the chicken give you?" Student: "Meat!" Teacher: "Very good! Now what does the pig give you?" Student: "Bacon!" Teacher: "Great! And what does the fat cow give you?" Student: "Homework!" *** A child asked his father, "How were people born?" So his father said, "Adam and Eve made babies, then their babies became adults and made babies, and so on." The child then went to his mother, asked her the same question and she told him, "We were monkeys then we evolved to become like we are now." The child ran back to his father and said, "You lied to me!" His father replied, "No, your mom was talking about her side of the family." *** Teacher: "If I gave you 2 cats and another 2 cats and another 2, how many would you have?" Johnny: "Seven." Teacher: "No, listen carefully... If I gave you two cats, and another two cats and another two, how many would you have?" Johnny: "Seven." Teacher: "Let me put it to you differently. If I gave you two apples, and another two apples and another two, how many would you have?" Johnny: "Six." Teacher: "Good. Now if I gave you two cats, and another two cats and another two, how many would you have?" Johnny: "Seven!" Teacher: "Johnny, where in the heck do you get seven from?!" Johnny: "Because I've already got a freaking cat!" *** A woman in her seventies, cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the first time, called Butterball for help because her mother said she was tired of cooking and it was time her daughter learned how to prepare the Thanksgiving meal. *** Does being chased by a chicken with its' head chopped off count? Just a note, I refused to eat it or any of the left overs. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Extremely stinky harvestman (Holoversia nigra) Mountains of Minas Gerais, Brazil

November 9th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Birthday of Muhammad Iqbal (Pakistan) Christian feast day: Benignus of Armagh Dedication of the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, Cathedral of the Pope (memorial feast day) Margery Kempe (Church of England) Martin Chemnitz (Lutheran) Nectarios of Aegina Theodore of Amasea (Roman Catholic Church) Virgin of Almudena (Madrid) Vitonus November 9 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of the Skulls or Dia de los ñatitas (Bolivia) Flag Day (Azerbaijan) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Cambodia from France in 1953. Inventors' Day (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) Uttarakhand Day (Uttarakhand, India) World Freedom Day (United States) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Brian Holland Legacy Day British Pudding Day Carl Sagan Day Chhath Puja Eleven09 Day Go to an Art Museum Day Microtia Awareness Day National Alejandro Day National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day National Grace Day National Hunter Day National Louisiana Day National Scrapple Day Tempranillo Day The Geriatric Toothfairy Day World Quality Day World Usability Day Nick Lachey’s Birthday Scarface’s Birthday Lou Ferrigno’s Birthday MOMO’s Birthday Hedy Lamarr’s Birthday Kory DeSoto’s Birthday Finley Tapp’s Birthday Carl Sagan’s Birthday Dorothy Dandridge’s Birthday Eric Dane’s Birthday Daphne Guinness’s Birthday Chris Jericho’s Birthday Carter Kench’s Birthday Sisqo’s Birthday French Montana’s Birthday TaJiah Gary’s Birthday Andy Studio’s Birthday Vanessa Lachey’s Birthday Fun Observances Chaos Never Dies Day Feel like your life sometimes spirals into a chaotic mess? Then Chaos Never Dies Day on November 9 is the holiday for you. This made-up holiday encourages people to realize that chaos is part of life and that it will never die. So instead of getting hassled by it, just take a deep breath and let go of things that create chaos in your life on this day. Chaos Never Dies Day is also known as National Chaos Never Dies Day in the United States. How to Celebrate? Take the day for yourself and do things that de-stress you. Pack your lunch and go for a picnic in the park with your loved ones. Watch a feel good movie or read a book. Take a nap in the middle of the day and remember chaos never dies, so it can wait to hassle you for one more day. Did You Know… …that chaos theory, which is the study of dynamic systems can be applied to many fields of study including mathematics, biology, meteorology and philosophy? *** Does anyone remember the Swatch, a watch made in Switzerland? Thank god Croatia didn't come up with the idea first. Just imagine if someone were to ask you what time is it? "Oh pardon me while I look at my crotch." *** Guy calls in to his Boss: Worker: I can't come to work today. I'm sick Boss: Oh yea! What's wrong with you now? Worker: I have anal glaucoma. Boss: What the hell is that? Worker: I just can't see my ass working today. *** While visiting a friend in the hospital, a young man notices several pretty nurses, each one of them wearing a pin designed to look like an apple. “What does the pin signify?” he asks one of them. “Oh! Nothing,” she says with a chuckle, “we just use it to keep the doctors away.” *** My son and I were checking out 
a house he was interested in buying. When the owner came to the door, she looked at me and said, “Larry? 
I know you. We went to school 
together. I’m Elaine. Don’t you 
recognize me?” I drew a complete blank. She took out our old yearbook and showed me her graduation picture—still nothing. “Let’s look at your 
picture,” she said. She flipped the pages until she came to me. Under my photo I 
had written, “Elaine, I will never 
forget you.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** (When all else fails?) *** sandrewn

Black and Yellow Garden Spider The spider species (Argiope aurantia) is commonly known as the black and yellow garden spider, writing spider, or corn spider. Black and Yellow Garden Spider at Oleta River State Park

November 8th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity (Roman Catholic Church) Four Crowned Martyrs Godfrey of Amiens Johann von Staupitz (Lutheran) Blessed John Duns Scotus Saints and Martyrs of England (Church of England) Tysilio Willehad of Bremen November 8 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Intersex Day of Remembrance (New South Wales, Australia) International Day of Radiology (European Society of Radiology) National Aboriginal Veterans Day (Canada) Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the other Bodiless Powers of Heaven (Eastern Orthodox Church) World Urbanism Day Victory Day (Azerbaijan) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Abet and Aid Punsters Day Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day National Adam Day National Ashley Day National Cappuccino Day National Christopher Day National Dunce Day National Harvey Wallbanger Day National Irene Day National Kyle Day National Leon Day National Parents as Teachers Day STEM/STEAM Day Talk Money Day World Pianist Day World Radiography Day NYC Kidney Walk Roast Dinner Day Shot Day Eating Healthy Day Benjamin Banneker Week Lisa Peachy’s Birthday Khia’s Birthday Lauren Alaina’s Birthday José Manuel López Castro’s Birthday Justin McElroy’s Birthday Nick Mara’s Birthday Travis McElroy’s Birthday Erica Mena’s Birthday Gordon Ramsay’s Birthday DanTDM’s Birthday David Muir’s Birthday Damon Fizzy’s Birthday Bonnie Raitt’s Birthday Bobby Bowden’s Birthday Matilda Ramsay’s Birthday Hannah Rylee’s Birthday Naz Norris’s Birthday Jonathan Wheeler’s Birthday Bentley Hammington’s Birthday Tech N9ne’s Birthday Benjamin Wadsworth’s Birthday Fun Observances Tongue Twister Day Say, Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers ten times really fast on November 8, because it is Tongue Twister Day! A tongue twister is a phrase that is very hard for people to articulate, especially when spoken in a sequence really fast. Finger Fumblers Most languages, including sign language have their own versions of tongue twisters. In sign language, they are known as finger fumblers. In many cultures, children usually use them as word games. Tongue twisters tend to rely on using similar sounding words that aliterate. That means that the first letters or sounds in the words are the same. How to Celebrate? Have a tongue twister contest with family, friends and co-workers. Whoever is able to say out a tongue twister without making mistakes wins. Make up your own tongue twister. Did You Know… …that she sells sea-shells on the sea-shore is a popular tongue twister that comes from a poem written by British songwriter Terry Sullivan and was based on the life of Mary Anning, a British fossil collector who was known to scout the beaches for fossils? *** THREE TREES AND A WOODPECKER Two tall trees, a birch and a beech, are growing in the woods. A small tree begins to grow between them, and the beech says to the birch, "Is that a son of a beech or a son of a birch?" The birch says he cannot tell, but just then a woodpecker lands on the sapling. The birch says, "Woodpecker, you are a tree expert. Can you tell if that is a son of a beech or a son of a birch?" The woodpecker takes a taste of the small tree and replies, "It is neither a son of a beech nor a son of a birch, It is, however, the best piece of ash I have ever poked my pecker into." *** You are on a horse, galloping at a constant speed. On your right side is a sharp drop off, and on your left side is an elephant traveling at the same speed as you. Directly in front of you is another galloping horse but your horse is unable to overtake it. Behind you is a lion running at the same speed as you and the horse in front of you. What must you do to safely get out of this highly dangerous situation? Get your drunk ass off the merry-go-round! *** An elephant and a camel are talking. The elephant asks, "Why do you have boobs on your back?" The camel replies, "Ha! That's a funny question coming from an animal with a penis hanging from his face." *** Our boatswain's mate was a smoker who would toss his matches overboard. Then one day, he surprised us all when he popped a cigarette in his mouth and produced an expensive lighter from his pocket. With great fanfare, he flipped open the top, flicked the spark wheel, lit his cigarette ... then chucked the lighter overboard. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Sadly, this brings me back to an exchange you and I had last Thursday, lest we forget. Martin Niemöller First they came ... - Wikipedia First they came for the Communists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Communist Then they came for the Socialists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Socialist Then they came for the trade unionists And I did not speak out Because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for the Jews And I did not speak out Because I was not a Jew Then they came for me And there was no one left To speak out for me

It depends(?), which pairs of legs are you referring to.

Yellow Translucent Jumping Spider (Salticidae sp) This photo was taken in Bengkulu Sumatra Indonesia. The size of body without legs is about 8mm.

November 7th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: All Dominican Saints and Blesseds Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg (Lutheran) Engelbert II of Berg Herculanus of Perugia John Christian Frederick Heyer (Lutheran) Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen (Lutheran) Prosdocimus Vicente Liem de la Paz (one of Vietnamese Martyrs) Willibrord November 7 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Students' Day, the anniversary of B. R. Ambedkar's school entry day. (Maharashtra, India) Commemoration Day, the anniversary of Ben Ali's succession. (Tunisia) Hungarian Opera Day (Hungary) International Inuit Day National Day, after Treaty of the Pyrenees. (Northern Catalonia, France) National Revolution and Solidarity Day (Bangladesh) October Revolution Day (the Soviet Union (former, official), modern Belarus, Kyrgyzstan) Tokhu Emong (Lotha Naga people of India) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Election Day Melbourne Cup Day National Cancer Awareness Day National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day National Hug a Bear Day National Keith Day National Lori Day National Programmatic Advertising Day National Retinol Day Notary Public Day Jon Taffer’s Birthday Joni Mitchell’s Birthday Gervonta Davis’s Birthday Hongjoong’s Birthday Albert Camus’s Birthday Elsa Hosk’s Birthday David Guetta’s Birthday Marie Curie’s Birthday Briana Monique’s Birthday Chuki Beats’s Birthday Bethany Mota’s Birthday Anthony Reeves’s Birthday Algee Smith’s Birthday Kamal Haasan’s Birthday Duncan Joseph’s Birthday Lorde’s Birthday Ella Jane’s Birthday THE8’s Birthday Adam DeVine’s Birthday Ronen Rubinstein’s Birthday ~~~~~ Tue Nov 7th, 2023 - Mon Nov 13th, 2023 International Games Week National Book Award Week Fun Observances Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day It's healthy, it's delicious and it's an easy-to-make, go-to snack. Celebrate almonds covered with sweet and bitter dark chocolate on November 7 or Bittersweet Chocolate With Almond Day. Made by dipping or rolling sautéed, roasted or caramelized almonds in melted chocolate, chocolate covered almonds were popular among the wealthy in the 18th century. Today, they are a quick snack perfect to take with on a hike, at a picnic or while on the go. Ancient Nuts Native to the Middle East and South Asia, almonds have been consumed by humans since ancient times. Archaeological evidence has shown that the almond fruit and nut was buried with Tutankhamun (King Tut) around 1300 BCE. Today, almonds are grown and used in cuisine all around the world. The United States is the world's largest producer of the nuts, with the state of California taking the lion share's of all the almonds exported by the country. Technically a drupe - a fruit with a fleshy body and hard seed - almonds are rich in Vitamins B and E and many essential minerals. Best for Baking Bittersweet chocolate is at least 35% chocolate liquor mixed with a minimal amount of sugar. In many parts of the world, it is also known as dark chocolate or semisweet chocolate. Bittersweet chocolate is used primarily for cooking and baking. How to Celebrate? Make your own bittersweet chocolate coated almonds. Experiment with flavors of this healthy snack - maybe add some cayenne pepper to give it a Mexican twist or use some rose essence and cardamom to make some Middle Eastern inspired bittersweet chocolate with almonds. Don't forget to share with family, friends and co-workers. Get creative. You don't just have to make bittersweet chocolate coated almonds to celebrate this fun food holiday. Instead, why not whip up a dessert that has both almonds and bittersweet chocolate. May we recommend a chocolate ice cream with caramelized almonds or an almond chocolate cake? Did You Know… …that wild almonds can kill you? The bitter version of the nut contains a high dosage of cyanide and eating a handful can prove fatal. But rest easy, the almonds you get from the stores and for food preparation are the harmless sweet, domestic variety *** Q: If you're American when you go in the bathroom and American when you come out, What are you in the bathroom? A: European. *** Did you hear about the fire in the shoe factory? 10,000 soles were lost. The police said some heels started it. *** A man walks into a pet store and asks for a dozen bees. The clerk carefully counts 13 bees out onto the counter. “That’s one too many!” says the customer. The clerk replies “It’s a freebie.” *** My three-year-old daughter stuck out her hand and said, “Look at the fly I killed, Mommy.” Since she was eating a juicy pickle at the time, I thrust her contaminated hands under the faucet and washed them with antibacterial soap. After sitting her down to finish her pickle, I asked, with a touch of awe, “How did you kill that fly all by yourself?” Between bites, she said, “I hit it with my pickle.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Sorry, it was not from a lack of effort, but you would be surprised(or maybe not) on how much info I was able to find on bird poop in New Guinea (zero/nada/zilch)!! However, info on the various birds was fascinating. My bet on the ugly poop/dung used by our spider goes to...... The Cassowary What is the world's most dangerous bird? | Library of Congress 8 COMMON Birds That Are Found in Papua New Guinea! (2023) - Bird Watching HQ

Bird dung spider (Pasilobus sp.) The araneid spider Pasilobus sp., common in the Morobe District, New Guinea, builds its web at night close to bushes and small trees. The more-or-less horizontal web has a triangular frame that is divided into halves by a midline thread running from the apical angle to bisect the base. From the midline thread hang 4–11 pairs of widely spaced spanning threads; these are the only adhesive elements in the web. The spanning threads are viscid for only part of their length and are strongly attached to the web only at their junction with the midline thread. The outer end of each spanning thread forms an easily ruptured, low-shear joint with the lateral frame thread of the web. When a flying insect strikes a spanning thread, the low-shear joint breaks and the thread drops below the web, leaving the insect tethered to the midline. The insect may continue to fly, on the tether, or may spin down to motionlessness. The spider rushes to the midline thread end of the tether, hauls up the spanning thread and then bites the insect. Experimental investigations of the low-shear joints and the adhesiveness and elasticity of the spanning thread are described and the results analysed. The web-building behaviour of Palilobus differs in several ways from that of most araneids and is described and compared with that of Gasteracantha and other species. The possible evolutionary origins of the Pasilobus web are outlined. Evolution beyond the orb web: the web of the araneid spider Pasilobus sp., its structure, operation and construction - ROBINSON - 1975 - Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society - Wiley Online Library

November 6th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast days: Barlaam of Khutyn Demetrian Illtud Leonard of Noblac Melaine of Rennes Winnoc November 6 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Gustavus Adolphus Day (in Sweden, Finland and Estonia) Finnish Swedish Heritage Day (in Finland) International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict Obama Day (in Kenya) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) All Saints Day (Colombia) Color the World Orange Day Constitution Day (Dominican Republic) Dog Film Festival Job Action Day Marooned Without a Compass Day National Ladies Learning Code Day National Michele Day National Nachos Day National Report Home Health Care Fraud Day National Team Manager Day Play Basketball Day Recreation Day National Broadcast Traffic Professionals Day Lamar Odom’s Birthday Kris Wu’s Birthday Jackie Oshry’s Birthday Sal Vulcano’s Birthday Traci Steele’s Birthday Emma Rose Sutcliffe’s Birthday Mike Wolfe’s Birthday Carl Lentz’s Birthday Cohen Muse’s Birthday Baby Fendi’s Birthday Anna Shumate’s Birthday Ali-A’s Birthday Lauren Orlando’s Birthday Emma Stone’s Birthday Maria Shriver’s Birthday Glenn Frey’s Birthday Pat Tillman’s Birthday Hannah Rathbun’s Birthday Sally Field’s Birthday Speaker Knockerz’s Birthday Talia Mar’s Birthday Adolphe Sax’s Birthday Hero Fiennes Tiffin’s Birthday ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mon Nov 6th, 2023 - Sun Nov 12th, 2023 Great British Game Week Mon Nov 6th, 2023 - Fri Nov 10th. 2023 Number Confidence Week Talk Money Week Fun Observances Saxophone Day November 6 is Saxophone Day, an unofficial holiday that celebrates the woodwind instrument popularly used in jazz, classical music, and military ensembles. The day honors saxophonists and commemorates the birth anniversary of its inventor Adolphe Sax. Born in Belgium in 1814, Sax was an instrument maker and musician who designed and introduced the Saxophone in 1840. Used Extensively It was first adopted for use in military bands and soon became a popular instrument played in a concert band and in chamber music. Chamber music is a type of music played by a group of small instruments - ones that usually can fit into a small room or chamber. Today, the Saxophone is used extensively in jazz and other kinds of dance music and in symphony orchestras around the world. Many Different Types The Saxophone comes in many different varieties, though most saxophonists usually use one of the four most popular types. These are tenor, baritone, alto, and soprano saxophones. The tenor saxophone is usually used in jazz and rock music bands, while the baritone saxophone tends to be reserved for jazz solos. The Alto Saxophone is easy to play and therefore used to train beginners. The Soprano plays the highest pitch among all saxophones and is also often played in jazz bands. Other saxophones include Mezzo Soprano, Sopranino, Tubax, Bass and Contrabass. World Saxophone Day In 2015, the Sax Open Project, a group of music composers and saxophonists declared June 12 as the first annual World Saxophone Day. The day is part of the week long World Saxophone Congress and Festival. How to Celebrate? Are you a saxophonist? Bring out your instrument and play some music with a band or solo for your family and friends. Attend a chamber music, jazz or symphony orchestra concert. Keep an ear out for the Saxophone notes. If you have always wanted to learn how to play the Saxophone, today is the day to get started. Did You Know… …that Adolphe Sax was also responsible for inventing the Saxhorn, Saxotromba, and the Saxtuba? *** Scene: My cousin Matt and his daughter at Chick-fil-A. Matt: Can I please get a four-piece kids’ meal with white milk. [Pause] Oh, and gimme an extra white milk. Clerk: Um … We only have one kind of milk, and it’s pretty white. *** I was looking at the pies offered by a nearby café. They had cherry, apple, berry, peach, and Herman’s. "What type of pie is Herman’s?" I asked the waiter. "Apple," he said. "Then why is it called Herman’s pie?" "Because Herman called in to reserve it." *** Days after we invaded Marja, Afghanistan, one of my Marines found out his wife hadn't paid the cell phone bill. He called the company and asked how he could settle up. "You can go to Western Union and place a money order," the billing agent told him. "Ma'am, I'm in Marja, Afghanistan," he explained. "We don't have Western Unions." "No problem. You can also go to Walmart." *** After finishing his meal, my grandfather, a retired Marine captain, asked the waitress for the 15 percent discount the restaurant offered veterans. "Do you need to see my military ID?" he asked. "That's all right," she said. "I know you were in the military. I can tell by your T-shirt." Grandpa's shirt read "Welcome to Gettysburg National Military Park." *** *** *** *** Siberian Bear Hunting Armour 1800s ( WOW & Ouch ) *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Some people are like clouds, once they disappear it's a brighter day. *** The truth behind the Angry Birds *** *** *** sandrewn

Each and every time I visit the 'Word of the Day', I never know where my wandering mind (and fingers) will take me. This comment triggered the trip today, fond memories/nostalgia!! The Carpenters - Yesterday Once More (INCLUDES LYRICS) - YouTube

The Other Point of View

November 5th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: All Jesuit Saints and Blesseds Domninus Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist Galation Guido Maria Conforti Magnus November 5 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Bank Transfer Day (United States) Colón Day (Panama) Guy Fawkes Night (United Kingdom, New Zealand and Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada), and its related observances: West Country Carnival (English West Country) Cinco de noviembre (Negros, Philippines) Kanakadasa Jayanthi (Karnataka, India) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) American Football Day Daylight Saving Day - 1 Daylight Savings Ends - 2 National Love Your Red Hair Day - 1 National Redhead Day - 2 Bonfire Night - 1 Gunpowder Day - 2 National Chinese Take Out Day National Erik Day National Luke Day World Tsunami Awareness Day World Run Day Orphan Sunday Odell Beckham Jr.’s Birthday Naval Ravikant’s Birthday Meredith Foster’s Birthday Lindsley Register’s Birthday Kris Jenner’s Birthday Virat Kohli’s Birthday Samuel Page’s Birthday Ike Turner’s Birthday ElainaExe’s Birthday Daisy Dares You’s Birthday Bryan Adams’s Birthday BoA’s Birthday Azlia Williams’s Birthday AllStar’s Birthday Roy Rogers’s Birthday Ryan Adams’s Birthday Johnny Damon’s Birthday Sophi Knight’s Birthday Kevin Jonas’s Birthday Vivien Leigh’s Birthday Alexa Chung’s Birthday Fun Observances Zero Tasking Day The first Sunday of November is not only the end of the Daylight Saving Time period in the United States, it is also Zero Tasking Day. The unofficial holiday encourages people to take it easy, give up multitasking for a day and well, do no tasks. How to Celebrate? Do nothing and just relax. Enjoy the extra hour you get because of the end of DST by taking a leisurely walk in the park or drinking coffee or tea while people watching at the mall. Did You Know… …that contrary to popular belief the correct grammatical term is Daylight Saving Time, not Daylight Savings Time? *** Don't interrupt someone working intently on a puzzle. Chances are, you'll hear some crosswords. *** I'm a big fan of whiteboards. I find them quite re-markable. *** Shout out to the people who ask what the opposite of "in" is. *** Q. Why can't Harry Potter tell the difference between the pot he uses to make potions and his best friend? A. They're both cauld ron. *** Last night, I dreamed I was swimming in an ocean of orange soda. But it was just a Fanta sea. *** I lost my job at the bank on my very first day. A woman asked me to check her balance, so I pushed her over. *** Wandering inside a pet store, 
I stopped in front of a birdcage to 
admire a parakeet. We watched each other for a few minutes before it asked, “Can’t you talk?” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** I told myself, I don't care what the starting salary is!!! *** Then after I saw this next job offer, I took the first one. I would rather shovel it, than swim in it!!! *** *** *** *** Only in NYC *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

What is the fastest killing spider in the world? The funnel web The funnel web “classically speaking” is considered the world's deadliest spider because it “kills so quickly”. “In terms of speed of death, in Australia we say funnel web, 15 minutes, no sweat,” Raven said. “With a funnel web bite to the torso, you're dead. No other spider can claim that reputation.”

November 4th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Charles Borromeo (Roman Catholic Church) Emeric of Hungary Felix of Valois Joannicius the Great Our Lady of Kazan (Russian Orthodox Church) Pierius Blessed Teresa Manganiello Vitalis and Agricola November 4 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Community Service Day (Dominica) Flag Day (Panama) National Tonga Day (Tonga) National Unity and Armed Forces Day or Giorno dell'Unità Nazionale e Festa delle Forze Armate (Italy) Unity Day (Russia) Yitzhak Rabin Memorial (unofficial, but widely commemorated) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) National Candy Day National Bison Day National Chicken Lady Day National Day of Community Service National Easy-Bake Oven Day National Melanie Day National Waiting for the Barbarians Day Roast Dinner Day World Numbat Day Ralph Macchio’s Birthday Raquel Santiago’s Birthday Lyna Perez’s Birthday Matthew McConaughey’s Birthday Darrius Barney’s Birthday Lorenzen Wright’s Birthday Kathy Griffin’s Birthday Taylor Tomlinson’s Birthday Jeff Kaplan’s Birthday Jessa Duggar’s Birthday Gaby - Gaby and Alex’s Birthday Diddy’s Birthday Dez Bryant’s Birthday Rissa G.’s Birthday Victoria Leigh Soto’s Birthday Steven Ogg’s Birthday Laura Bush’s Birthday TOP’s Birthday Bethenny Frankel’s Birthday Kirby Jenner’s Birthday Will Rogers’s Birthday Fun Observances Common Sense Day Are you familiar with the saying “common sense is not that common”? Celebrate this rarely used quality on November 4, Common Sense Day. The date coincides with the birth date of actor Will Rogers who was thought to have coined this phrase. How to Celebrate? Well, what can we say? Use your common sense to celebrate this unofficial holiday. Did You Know… …that Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet called Common Sense in 1776? In it, he drew out the need for independence of the 13 British colonies in North America from Britain. The pamphlet is thought to have inspired the American Revolution. *** I was in line at a restaurant. In front of me was a mother with her college-age son and his girlfriend. It was the middle of the dinner rush, and many customers were restless at the long wait, but the young couple, holding hands and kissing, were oblivious to everything around them. Although clearly not approving, the mother was silent, until one prolonged kiss when the young man had his face and hands buried in his girlfriend's long, curly locks. "Do you have to do that here?" the embarrassed mother asked. "I'm not doing anything, Mom," came her son's muffled voice. "My earring's caught in her hair." *** My five-year-old, Matt, worked with a speech therapist on the ch sound, which came out k. The 
therapist asked him to say chicken. He responded with kitchen. They tried again and again, but it always came out kitchen. Undeterred, she pushed him for one more try. Matt sighed and said, “Why don’t we 
just call it a duck?” *** I tried having my mother’s phone disconnected, but the customer-service rep told me that since the account was in my dad’s name, he’d have to be the one to put in the request. The fact that he’d been dead for 40 years didn’t sway her. Then a solution hit me: “If I stop paying the bill, you can turn off the service, right?” “Well, yes,” she said reluctantly. “But that would ruin his credit.” *** One caller to Butterball's Thanksgiving Turkey Talk-Line had always cut the legs off the turkey before putting it in the oven, thinking that was how you had to cook a turkey. She later learned that the only reason her mom had been doing that was because their oven had been so small that that was the only way to get the bird into the oven! *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Curiously, I am wondering? Not the most original 'Pickup line' I ever heard!

Triangular spider Arkys walckenaeri A Peekaboo moment?

November 3rd 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Acepsimas of Hnaita and companions (Greek Orthodox Church) Clydog Cristiolus Elias I of Antioch (Syriac Orthodox Church) Ermengol (Hermengaudius) Gaudiosus of Tarazona Gwenhael Hubertus Libertine Malachy O' More Blessed Manuel Lozano Garrido Martin de Porres Papulus Pirmin Richard Hooker (Anglican Communion) Rumwold of Buckingham Blessed Rupert Mayer Silvia Winifred November 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Culture Day (Japan) Flag Day (United Arab Emirates) Independence Day / Separation Day, celebrates the separation and independence of Panama from Colombia in 1903. Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Dominica from the United Kingdom in 1978. Independence Day, celebrates the independence of the Federated States of Micronesia from the United States in 1986. Independence Day of Cuenca (Ecuador) Mother's Day (East Timor) Victory Day (Maldives) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) National Homemaker Day Cliche Day Fountain Pen Day Give Someone a Dollar Day Jellyfish Day Love Your Lawyer Day National Accessory Day National Housewife Day National Jersey Friday Smart Home Day Joseline Hernández’s Birthday Gabe Newell’s Birthday Ella Mai’s Birthday Desiree Dacosta’s Birthday Nav’s Birthday Lulu’s Birthday Bert Kreischer’s Birthday Benito Skinner’s Birthday Anna Wintour’s Birthday Andi Miranda’s Birthday Alex Zedra’s Birthday Adam Ant’s Birthday Karnation So Cool’s Birthday Kendall Jenner’s Birthday Charles Bronson’s Birthday Minhyuk’s Birthday David After Dentist’s Birthday Nihachu’s Birthday Roseanne Barr’s Birthday Colin Kaepernick’s Birthday Fun Observances Sandwich Day November 3 is celebrated every year as Sandwich Day. The ultimate in convenient food and one of the most beloved food around the world, it is no surprise that the humble sandwich has it own day. The unofficial holiday commemorates the birth anniversary of John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich. Rumor has it that the modern day version of the sandwich came about when Montagu's servants put some meat between two slices of bread as a way for the Earl to eat his meal while gambling. How to Celebrate? Eat sandwiches for all your meals. Have a bacon and egg sandwich for breakfast, an egg salad sandwich for lunch, a roast beef sandwich for dinner and an ice cream sandwich for desert. Gourmet up your sandwich by adding gourmet ingredients like bacon jam, goat cheese and roasted beets. Make a grilled cheese sandwich instead of just a normal sandwich. Did You Know… …that August is Sandwich month? Make a different sandwich for every day of the month. *** Q. When you want to use me, you throw me away. When you're done using me, you bring me in. What am I? A. An anchor. *** Q. A magician promises that he can throw a ball as hard as he can and have it stop, change direction, and come back to him. He claims he can do it without the ball bouncing off of anything, the ball being tied to anything, or the use of magnets. How is this possible? A. He throws the ball straight up in the air! *** Q. There's a one-story house where everything inside is pink: pink walls, pink doors, pink floors, pink ceilings, pink windows, pink curtains, pink chairs, and pink tables. What color are the stairs? A. There are none—it's a one-story house! *** The checkout clerk at the supermarket was unusually cheerful even though it was near closing time. “You must have picked up a ton of groceries today,” a customer said to the checker. “How can you stay so pleasant?” “We can all count our blessings,” the clerk replied. “The hardest part of this job is the turkeys and the watermelons. I just thank God that Thanksgiving doesn’t come in July.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** (1962) *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

@Mark Arbour No shot, smoke and powder, but a successful chapter(s) indeed. An Earldom, on the Privy counsel, a surprise gift from the Tzar, a settlement of sorts with his father and a promise of possible action with St. Vincent back on good terms(YAY). Then of course, tradition, yet another (ex)midshipman of his, Mr. Gatling bites the dust. I liked him from the very start. If circumstance hadn't put him and Calvert together, who knows what might have been? Ever faithful, awaiting your next. A reminder to the rest of your loyal crew, there is still a war on going! The Algeciras Campaign. First Battle of Algeciras - Wikipedia Second Battle of Algeciras - Wikipedia