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Post by ZandraJoi on Dec 13, 2020 9:52:00 GMT -5
"December 13th ushers in a celebration worthy of the winter holidays with National Cocoa Day. It’s the perfect way to warm up after a cold day outside. We make hot cocoa with cocoa powder, heated milk or water, and sugar. However, Americans often use hot chocolate and hot cocoa interchangeably, sometimes causing a bit of confusion. There is a difference between the two beverages. We make hot chocolate by using ground chocolate containing cocoa butter. We mix it with hot milk, and it is drinking chocolate. Hot chocolate is also known as drinking chocolate. We make hot cocoa from cocoa powder. We produce a paste called chocolate liquor through the fermentation, drying, roasting, and grinding process of cocoa beans. Through another method, they separate cocoa butter, leaving cocoa powder. We use this cocoa powder to make hot cocoa. The result has very little fat and calories." My notes: Who loves chocolate? I have it daily, mostly in the form of my frozen banana shake each morning. Try to get fair trade. We take for granted our food here & don't realize the SOURCE of getting this cheap food. Remember: Cheap Food = From Cheap Labor! Another link you may find interesting: Man grow cocoa but never tasted
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Post by ZandraJoi on Dec 13, 2021 9:20:12 GMT -5
"Honoring an instrument also known as the fiddle, National Violin Day on December 13th celebrates the bow stringed instrument loved around the world. By drawing the bow across the strings, the violinist manipulates the sound in several ways. A violinist uses numerous bowing techniques to master the violin. The strokes dictate not only notes, but the quality of the note played. While we associate the violin with classical music, it easily crosses genres. For instance, the violinist demonstrates the versatility of the violin by extensive use in baroque music, jazz, folk music, rock and roll, and soft rock.
“Violin” comes from the Medieval Latin work “vitula” which means stringed instrument.
Although having ancient origins, violin-makers developed most of the violin’s modern characteristics in Italy during the 16th century. Further modifications formed in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Violin History It is believed that Turkic and Mongolian horsemen from Inner Asia were the world’s earliest fiddlers. They played two-stringed upright fiddles strung with horsehair strings. Likewise, they played using horsehair bows and often featured a carved horse’s head at the end of the neck. The violins we play today (as well as the violas and cellos) with bows still strung with horsehair are a legacy of the nomads. 1555 – Andrea Amati receives credit for the oldest documented four-string violin, like the modern violins. The “Lady Blunt” brought a record dollar amount when it was auctioned on June 20, 2011. The Stradivari violin sold for $15.9 million. Musicians and collectors alike seek instruments made by Stradivari almost more than any other maker. A luthier makes or repairs violins."
My notes: Any of you into playing the violin? History is always fascinating to me at how things came to be.
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Post by spg on Dec 13, 2021 9:24:04 GMT -5
I know friends who do. But never tried to learn much. It is a fantastic instrument. A lot of people do cover videos of popular songs using solo violin. And they sound great too.
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Post by ZandraJoi on Dec 13, 2022 9:32:44 GMT -5
"A component of the United States Army, the National Guard is primarily composed of citizen-soldiers who hold down full-time, civilian jobs, attend school, or as is often the case, both. At the same time, they are available to provide support and protection for the states’ civilians or be called for military operations at a national level. Each U.S. state, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the territories of Guam and U.S. Virgin Islands maintain both an Army National Guard and an Air National Guard."
My notes: Support all branches of our Military. They are our first line of defense.
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Post by lainee on Dec 13, 2022 13:45:03 GMT -5
Awesome! A day to honor our superb National Guard! These citizen-soldiers often drop everything to defend & serve our Country. Happy Birthday, National Guard! And, Thank You!
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Post by ZandraJoi on Dec 13, 2023 9:03:35 GMT -5
"National Day of the Horse on December 13th encourages people of the United States to be mindful of the contribution of horses to the economy, history, and character of the United States. The domesticated horse we know today, also known as Equus caballus, was introduced into North America by Spanish explorers. Escaped horses eventually spread across the American Great Plains." My notes: Who likes horses? Do you have them? We lived on acreage growing up & there was a horse farm near our field. I remember going over there & the horses were quite friendly. The humans however were not. Members may like this thread: Rode a horse.
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