And the Oscar goes to…

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By Diane Forrest

Tonight is the 85th Academy Awards show, only now the name has been changed to The Oscars.  The first full award presentation was at The Academy Awards banquet at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, and less than 250 people were present. Best actor, Emil Jannings, had requested that he receive his Academy Award earlier than the ceremony date, as he planned on returning to Europe sooner, and wanted to carry the statuette with him. His was actually the first Academy Award ever received. From 1969 until the present, The Academy Award show has been broadcast worldwide.

Legend has it that an Academy librarian, Margaret Herrick, said that the statue looked a lot like her Uncle Oscar, and the staff began jokingly referring to the statue as "Oscar." Through the late 1930's the name caught on, but it wasn't officially used by The Academy Award show until 1939.  Another story about how he got his name was from actress Bette Davis, upon receiving her first Academy Award, took a glance at the statuette's rear, and proclaimed something like, "It looks like Oscar's derriere!" (She was referring to her husband, Oscar Nelson, Jr. and his backside.)

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Another interesting fact about Oscar is during World War II, when there was a metal shortage, Oscar was made of nothing more than painted plaster. After the war was over, The Academy Awards board of directors replaced all the plaster statuettes, with the fine gold-plated Oscar that we are so familiar with.  Oscar is 13 1/2 inches tall, and he weighs a hefty 8 1/2 pounds. Oscar is fashioned from Brittanium, plated with silver, nickel, and copper, and then finished off in impressive 24-karat gold. He's been the same for all these years, except for a slight alteration in 1945, when his pedestal was raised.

I have always loved watching the awards show since I was young. I love seeing all the stars dressed in their finest, I love looking at the wacky dresses and hearing the funny and emotional speeches, and I love being there when something outrageous happens, and to see if my favorite movie or actor wins.

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So, tonight, if you plan on watching the awards, now known as the Oscars, go to this site and print out your own ballot and see if your picks win.  No matter the outcome, it’s sure to be a great show, and Billy Crystal will be hosting again!  Below are some more tidbits about the past shows.

Most acting wins: Four, by Katharine Hepburn (Morning Glory, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, The Lion in Winter, On Golden Pond)

Most acting nominations: 17, for Meryl Streep (two wins)

Most nominations for a single film: 14 (All About Eve, Titanic)

Films with the most nominations that were shut out: The Turning Point and The Color Purple, with 11 each

Most wins for a film: 11 (Ben-Hur, Titanic, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)

Most Oscars won: 26, by Walt Disney (22 competitive, four honorary)

Most Oscars won by a woman: Eight, by costume designer Edith Head

Most nominations for someone still living: 47, for composer John Williams (five wins)

Oldest recipient: Production designer Robert F. Boyle, awarded an honorary Oscar at 98

Youngest recipient: Shirley Temple, who got the no-longer-presented Juvenile Oscar at 6

Youngest competitive acting winner: Tatum O’Neal (Paper Moon), 10

Oldest competitive acting winners: Jessica Tandy (Driving Miss Daisy) and George Burns (The Sunshine Boys), both 80

Longest Oscar telecast: 2002, 4 hours 23 min (Best Picture: A Beautiful Mind)

Shortest Oscar telecast: 1959, 1 hour 40 min (Best Picture: Gigi). The show ended 20 minutes early, forcing cohost Jerry Lewis to vamp until NBC could cut to a sports documentary.

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/IMDb/IMDb_RTO2013ballot_academyawards.pdf?ref_=hm_ad_t5

Happy Birthday Walt Disney

Happy Birthday

By Diane Forrest

In the spring of 1994 I took my son to the happiest place on earth.  This was my first real vacation too.  I had been working for a year as a nurse, and was working the night shift.  I had spent months planning this wonderful trip.  Since I was working nights, I didn’t feel safe driving, but figured I could handle a 60 mile trip to the train station.  I just laid my head down for a second, and a few hours later I woke up realizing that I would be late for the train departure.  Luckily, I made it in time, with a few minutes to spare, but I forgot all of my personal care items.

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We took the train to New Orleans where we boarded a plane to fly to Orlando, Florida.  I was just as excited to see the entrance as my son was.  We were indeed at the happiest place on earth.  6 years later we accompanied my husband on another trip.  This trip was just as exciting as the first one, especially watching the wonder and excitement in his face.  My son was also older, and didn’t remember much from his first trip.

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These wonderful memories were made possible by Mr. Walt Disney, who had a vision for a place where families could spend time together and forget their troubles for a while.  Disneyland, in Anaheim California, was the first park conceived by Mr. Disney.  His original plans were to be a park built for employees and their children, but the vision grew larger and larger until it reached the place you see today.  At the dedication, which was attended by Ronald Reagan, Walt gave this speech, "To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America ... with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to the entire world."

Walt Disney's name is synonymous with family entertainment both in the movies and cartoons he developed, and his theme parks.

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Today in 1901, Walt Disney was born.  65 years and 10 days later he passed away leaving the world a better place than how he found it.  If you have ever visited a Disney theme park, or watched a Disney movie, then give a thought today for Mr. Walt Disney for having the visions to create wonderful memories for you too.

Mad Hatter Day

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By Diane Forrest

A very merry

Unbirthday to you,

To you, A very merry

Unbirthday to you,

To you,

It's great to

Drink to someone ,

And I guess that

You will do,

A very merry

Unbirthday to you!

statistics prove that you've

one birthday

one birthday every year

but there are 364 un birthdays

that is why we are all gathered here

a very merry unbirthday to all

to all

a very merry unbirthday to all

to all

thats how we sing the day away

a verry merry unbirthday

to all

These are the lyrics to a song sung by the Mad Hatter made popular in the 1951 Disney Movie of Alice in Wonderland.  I like to think that the meaning of this song is to celebrate every day, if it's your birthday or not!

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In the book by Lewis Caroll, the Mad Hatter was never called "Mad" .  That name came much later.  However, there was a chapter in the book called “The Mad Tea Party” and the Cheshire cat referred that the hatter and the March Hare were both mad.

The term Mad as a hatter evolved during the manufacturing of hats back in the day.  Mercury was used during the process called carroting, and this mercury lead to lead poisoning, which drove some men who wore hats, crazy.

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The card on the hat reads 10/6, which refers to the cost of the hat, 10 shillings and a 6 pence. Today, on 10/6, or October 6, we celebrate Mad Hatter's Day.  In 1986, a group of computer technicians in Boulder, Colorado celebrated the first Mad Hatter Day. They designated the holiday as a day of silliness and year after year it has grown in popularity.  This is a day to celebrate silliness, wear a hat, and be crazy.   So if today is Your birthday, or your unbirthday, celebrate, act crazy and have a great day.  Today is my mother's birthday, so she gets to act extra crazy today.

International Literacy Day – Literacy and Peace

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By Terry Orr

“Education brings sustainability to all the development goals, and literacy is the foundation of all learning. It provides individuals with the skills to understand the world and shape it, to participate in democratic processes and have a voice, and also to strengthen their cultural identity. “

Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director General

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Literacy is a human right, a tool of personal empowerment and a means for social and human development. Educational opportunities depend on literacy.

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Literacy is at the heart of basic education for all, and essential for eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy. There are good reasons why literacy is at the core of Education for All (EFA).

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A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. ~ Chinese Proverb

A good quality basic education equips pupils with literacy skills for life and further learning; literate parents are more likely to send their children to school; literate people are better able to access continuing educational opportunities; and literate societies are better geared to meet pressing development.

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According to International Reading Association, more than 780 million of the world’s adults (nearly two-thirds of whom are women) do not know how to read or write, and between 94 and 115 million children lack access to education.

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No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance. ~ Confucius

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Things we can do to help:

• Read a book to a child
• Have a child read a book to an adult
• Take a professional development course
• Join a social media platform – Linked In, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
• Write a letter to an old friend – the snail mail way!
• Share this list with friends and coworkers – and dare them to take the challenge!
• Play a game of Scrabble
• Look up and learn a new word (and continue to do so every day for a month!)
• Use a new form of technology (Smartphone, self‐serve checkout, etc.)

“Never be entirely idle; but either be reading, or writing, or praying, or meditating, or endeavoring something for the public good.” ~ Thomas a Kempis (1380 - 1471)

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I cannot live without books. ~ Thomas Jefferson

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A library is a hospital for the mind. ~ Anonymous

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There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island. ~ Walt Disney

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References and Links:

http://www.reading.org/general/conferences/InternationalLiteracyDay.aspx

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/

http://www.bookaid.org/get-involved/events/international-literacy-day/

http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2012/12-156.html

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Donald Duck Day

Who's the leader of the club

That's made for you and me

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

Hey! there, Hi! there, Ho! there

You're as welcome as can be

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

Mickey Mouse! (Donald Duck!)

Mickey Mouse! (Donald Duck!)

Forever let us hold our banner

High! High! High! High!

Come along and sing a song

And join the jamboree!

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

Donald Duck
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By Diane Forrest

Every time I hear that song, I always see Donald Duck sticking his head in calling out his name as if he were the "leader of the club".  Donald always wanted to be the top banana, and I think he was a little jealous of Mickey, but he never paid any attention to Donald.

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Donald's full name is Donald Fauntleroy Duck. He debuted in the cartoon "The Wise Little Hen" on June 9, 1934, so... today is his birthday. Donald lives in Duckburg with his three nephews; Huey, Dewey and Louie. He is the son of Uncle $crooge's older sister Hortense and her husband, Quackmore, but he and his twin sister, Della, were raised by Grandma Duck. He has a cousin, Gladstone, a pet St. Bernard named Bolivar and a long-term girlfriend, Daisy.

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Donald can be a very grumpy duck.. and sometimes hard to understand, but he is still one of the most popular ducks around, one of Disney’s' favorite characters, and tops in comic books sales too.

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Today is Donald Duck Day, it being his birthday and all, why not watch some old Donald Duck Movies or even have some cake and ice cream and celebrate the world's most famous duck.

Recently received emails to share…

US POSTAL TIP - IMPORTANT

Pay back is fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WRITE IT ON THE BACK OF YOUR ENVELOPES or front

WE THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA. WE'LL
START WRITING IT ON THE FRONTOF OUR ENVELOPES, TOO!

----------Including Bills

You may have heard in the news that
a couple of Post Offices in Texas have been forced to take down small posters that say
'IN GOD WE TRUST ,'

The law, they say, is being violated..
Anyway, we heard proposed on a radio
station show, that we should all write

' IN GOD WE TRUST'
on the back of all our mail.

After all, that's our National Motto,
and -----
all the money we use to buy stamps.

We think it's a wonderful idea.

We must take back our nation from all
the people who think that anything that offends them should be removed.

If you like this idea, please pass
it on and DO IT. The idea of writing or stamping............
'IN GOD WE TRUST '

on our envelopes sounds good to us
SOME PEOPLE ARE HAVING A RUBBER STAMP MADE TO ENSURE IT IS SEEN........

lets use it as our signature on e-mails,
too!
It's been reported that 86% of Americans
believe in God. Therefore, we have a very hard time understanding why there's such
a mess about having '

'In God We Trust!'

on our money and having God in the pledge of Allegiance.
Could it be that WE just need to take
action and tell the 14% to 'sit down and shut up'?
If you agree, pass this on, if not, delete!!!

BUT REMEMBER IF YOU DELETE THIS,

that's one reason why this world is
in the mess we're in now

WE SIT BACK & LET IT HAPPEN!!

"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Goodbye to ABC  TV

ABC News Joins Obama- Bans American Flag Lapel Pins-

ABC NEWS BANS FLAG LAPEL PINS

This is what we get from the present stuff going on in Washington.  What next? 

Barbara Walters said that this was going to hurt ABC bad. As you know she works for ABC.

ABC NEWS BANS FLAG LAPEL PINS!

Yesterday the brass at ABC news issued orders forbidding reporters to wear lapel pin American flags or other patriotic insignia.

Their reasoning was that ABC should remain neutral about 'causes'.

Since when is patriotism to be discouraged?

I urge you to boycott ABC and its sponsors and affiliates. We are slowly losing everything our country stands for and Everything our men and women fought and died to preserve!

(Please forward this to as many as you can.)

(THIS HAS BEEN VERIFIED THROUGH: http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/a/abcflag.htm  THIS ONE NEEDS TO BE CIRCULATED...QUICKLY)

[So what do you think Walt Disney and Peter Jennings would do about this?]

LITTLE GIRL ON A PLANE

An atheist was seated next to a little girl on an airplane and he turned to her and said, "Do you want to talk?  Flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger."

The little girl, who had just started to read her book, replied to the total stranger, "What would you want to talk about?"

“Oh, I don't know," said the atheist. "How about why there is no GOD, or no Heaven or Hell, or no life after death?" as he smiled smugly.

"OK," she said. "Those could be interesting topics but let me ask you a question first.  A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff - grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, but a horse produces clumps.  Why do you suppose that is?"

The atheist, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence, thinks about it and says, "Hmmm, I have no idea."

To which the little girl replies, "Do you really feel qualified to discuss why there is no GOD, or no Heaven or Hell, or no life after death, when you don't know crap?"

And then she went back to reading her book.