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Today is:
Forefathers’ Day
Mathematics Day

Quotes of the Day:
“Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do.”- H. Jackson Brown Jr

“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.”- E.E. Cummings

“I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can’t see from the center.”- Kurt Vonnegut

“If you take risks and face your fate with dignity, there is nothing you can do that makes you small; if you don’t take risks, there is nothing you can do that makes you grand, nothing.”- Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Music of the Day:

𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐓𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 / 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐮𝐦 @ 𝟏𝟒-𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐮𝐦
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym71VICj06M

On This Day In History:
1877 Thomas Edison's Phonograph is announced by Scientific American
1990 Lech Wałęsa sworn in as Poland's 1st popularly elected president
1996 St Louis Blues’ right wing Brett Hull scores his 26th NHL career hat trick to reach 500 career goals in a 7-4 win over the LA Kings; with father Bobby Hull, first father/son combo to each record 500 goals
2006 Australian archaeologist Sue O'Connor finds first evidence of modern humans in Jerimalai cave, near Lene Hara cave in East Timor
2010 Repeal of the "Don't Ask Don't Tell policy", a 17-year-old policy banning homosexuals serving openly in the US military, signed into law by President Barack Obama

Forefathers’ Day

Every year, the anniversary of the first pilgrims landing on the shores of North America is observed on Forefathers’ Day on December 22 (unless it occurs on a Sunday, in which case Forefathers’ Day is celebrated on December 23). Although the forefathers landed in America on December 21, the anniversary was accidentally marked as December 22 when the Gregorian calendar was adopted. It is definitely worth celebrating the journey of the first pilgrims who sailed across the ocean in search of a better life and ultimately launched one of the superpower countries of the world. Few things are more important to Americans than heritage. Remembering where you come from, and how hard you’ve worked to get where you are, are all integral parts of the concept of the American dream.

HISTORY OF FOREFATHERS’ DAY
It is a story as heroic as any classic tale in literature. The story of the nation’s brave forefathers who escaped economic limitations, unemployment, and religious persecution in search of freedom and preservation of their cultural identity.

Sailing into the unknown with the hope of a new world, the pilgrim forefathers boarded the Mayflower and Speedwell to journey to the U.S. Due to issues and leakage, the passengers in the Speedwell were squeezed into the Mayflower. Risky as it was, the Mayflower shored at Plymouth Rock on December 21, 1620. And thus, America was discovered.

Seven descendants from the Mayflower founded the Old Colony Club in 1769 to proudly honor the bravery of their forefathers and to commemorate the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers. Forefathers’ Day has been observed every year since, rising in popularity as the years went on.

By 1880, people from all over the country participated enthusiastically in the observance of Forefathers’ Day. From Los Angeles to New England, and organizations to churches, the holiday is commemorated with meetings, formal dinners, and speeches highlighting the historical significance of the pilgrims and their accomplishments.

However, after the Civil War ended and President Abraham Lincoln announced the official day for celebrating Thanksgiving, Forefathers’ Day annual celebrations took a fall. So much so, that by the 1900s the holiday was altogether merged with Thanksgiving. Among all the regions across the country, only Plymouth continues to pay tribute to its history and the forefathers, without whom there would be no America.

FOREFATHERS’ DAY TIMELINE
November 26, 1863
Thanksgiving is Declared
President Abraham Lincoln announces this day as the official Thanksgiving day.

1802
Pilgrims Become Political
John Quincy Adams label the Pilgrims as proto-democrats, creating the foundation for the future Republican government.

1769
We’ll Eat to That
The Mayflower descendants establish the Old Colony Club.

1620
A New Hope
The Pilgrims in the Mayflower land on Plymouth Rock.

FOREFATHERS’ DAY FAQS
Which tribe did the first Pilgrims meet in America?
The natives residing in Plymouth Colony were the tribes of the Wampanoag people, who had settled there around 10,000 years before the Europeans arrived.

Why did the first Pilgrims come to America?
There were many reasons for the Pilgrims’ voyage to America. One of the biggest reasons was religious freedom.

Was the Mayflower the only ship of the Pilgrim Fathers to reach America?
Yes, the Mayflower is the only ship that made it from England to Plymouth. The Speedwell didn’t make it so far due to leaks and failures.

HOW TO OBSERVE FOREFATHERS’ DAY
Dine like the pilgrims
Replicate the ‘New England Dining’ meal for your family with the same menu items that are offered in the traditional meetings of Forefathers’ Day celebrations.

Learn about your lineage
Many blue-blooded Americans have ancestors who were aboard the Mayflower. Learn about your country’s history and the first pilgrims who landed.

Keep the holiday alive
Since Forefathers’ Day is no longer celebrated as widely as it once used to be, do your part in creating awareness for this day by posting about it on social media.

5 FACTS ABOUT THE PILGRIMS’ JOURNEY TO AMERICA
A first of its kind
The Pilgrim settlers at Plymouth, Massachusetts established among the first permanent colonies in New England.

400!
In 2020, Deval Patrick, former Governor of Massachusetts, initiated a state commission in honor of the 400th anniversary of the landing of the forefathers.

Clash of the greats
A dispute among the Old Colony Club members resulted in their division into Patriots and Loyalists.

Survival rate after the settlement
Out of 102, only 51 passengers of the Mayflower survived the first winter in Plymouth.

Birth aboard the Mayflower
A child was born during the journey on the Mayflower. He was named Oceanus.

WHY FOREFATHERS’ DAY IS IMPORTANT
All hail America!
America, land of the free! Forefathers’ day celebrates the birth of one of the world’s greatest nations.

Struggles of the Pilgrim Fathers
In the face of insurmountable odds, the Pilgrim Fathers were able to establish themselves in their new settlement. They faced many hardships, disease, and hunger, and remained resilient. Their sacrifices were not in vain and we must continue to celebrate their courageous spirit.

Learning from the greats
History either serves as a reminder to not repeat mistakes, or it shines a light on great men who have accomplished great things. America and its humble beginnings are a testimony to this, and the country’s rich history must be preserved for all future generations.

https://nationaltoday.com/forefathers-day/

Mathematics Day

Mathematics Day, on December 22, celebrates the birth anniversary of India’s famed mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Ramanujan’s genius has been regarded by mathematicians to be on the same level as Euler and Jacobi from the 18th and 19th centuries. His work in the number theory is especially regarded and made advances in the partition function. Since 2012, India’s National Mathematics Day is recognized on December 22 annually with numerous educational events held at schools and universities throughout the country. In 2017, the day’s significance was enhanced by the opening of the Ramanujan Math Park in Kuppam, in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh.

HISTORY OF MATHEMATICS DAY
Srinivasa Ramanujan is the brilliant mathematician behind the inspiration for Mathematics Day in India, whose works influenced many across the country and the world. Ramanujan was born in 1887, in Erode Tamil Nadu to an Iyengar Brahmin family. At age 12, despite lacking a formal education, he excelled at trigonometry and developed many theorems for himself.

After finishing secondary school in 1904, Ramanujan became eligible for a scholarship to study at the Government Arts College, Kumbakonam, but could not secure it since he did not excel in other subjects. At the age of 14, Ramanujan ran away from home and enrolled at Pachaiyappa’s College in Madras, where he too only excelled in mathematics without managing the same in other subjects and was unable to finish with a Fellow of Arts degree. Living in dire poverty, Ramanujan instead pursued independent research in mathematics.

Soon, the budding mathematician was noticed in Chennai’s mathematics circles. In 1912, Ramaswamy Iyer — founder of the Indian Mathematical Society — helped him get a clerk position at the Madras Port Trust. Ramanujan then began sending his work to British mathematicians, receiving a breakthrough in 1913 when Cambridge-based GH Hardy called him to London after being impressed by Ramanujan’s theorems.

Ramanujan made his way to Britain in 1914, where Hardy got him into Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1917, Ramanujan was well on his way to success, after being elected to be a member of the London Mathematical Society, and he also became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1918 — one of the youngest to achieve the esteemed position.

Ramanujan returned to India in 1919 because he couldn’t get accustomed to the diet in Britain. His health continued to deteriorate and died in 1920 at the age of 32. However, his achievements in the field of mathematics are still highly regarded across the globe. Ramanujan left behind three notebooks with pages containing unpublished results, which mathematicians continued to work on for years to come. So much so that in 2012, former Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh declared December 22 — the day of Ramanujan’s birth — as National Mathematics Day to be celebrated across the country.

MATHEMATICS DAY TIMELINE
1887
Ramanujan is born
Ramanujan is born in Erode Tamil Nadu to an Iyengar Brahmin family, growing up in poverty, and later becoming a brilliant mathematician who left an indelible mark on the field.

1918
A high achievement
Ramanujan becomes one of the youngest people in history to receive a Fellow of the Royal Society, shortly after being elected to be a member of the London Mathematical Society in Britain.

2012
Mathematics Day is recognized
Former Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh declares December 22, the day of Ramanujan’s birth, as National Mathematics Day to celebrate Ramanujan’s achievements.

2019
The Royal Society honors Ramanujan
The prestigious Royal Society — the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences — tweets a special message in honor of the Fellow.

MATHEMATICS DAY FAQS
How do we celebrate Math Day?
There are many ways to celebrate Mathematics Day, not just in India but around the world. In India, NASI celebrates National Mathematics Day by conducting a workshop in applications of Mathematics and Ramanujan. The workshop is attended by popular lecturers and experts in the field of mathematics from across the country. Speakers at the national and world level discuss Srinivasa Ramanujan’s contribution to mathematics.

Who is the father of Indian mathematicians?
Aryabhata or Aryabhata I was the first of the major mathematician-astronomers from the classical age of Indian mathematics and Indian astronomy. His works include the Āryabhaṭīya (which mentions that in 3600 Kaliyuga, 499 CE, he was 23 years old) and the Arya-Siddhanta.

What day is World Maths Day?
The International Day of Mathematics (IDM) is a worldwide celebration. Each year on March 14 all countries are invited to participate through activities for both students and the general public in schools, museums, libraries, and other spaces.

HOW TO CELEBRATE MATHEMATICS DAY
Read up about trigonometry
Srinivasa Ramanujan's earliest stories began around the age of 12, mastering the dizzying logic of trigonometry and developing theorems on his own without any assistance. While not everyone feels the need to celebrate mathematics, it’s still an important subject. Why not try learning the concept of trigonometry yourself, or read up about it? It’s actually one of the most important branches of mathematics and is something that every student should focus on. Great trigonometry skills allow students to work out complex angles and dimensions in relatively little time.

Watch the movie about Ramanujan
The brilliant mathematician inspired the field of mathematics and many students across India. If you don’t know much about him, you can watch his incredible story of success from the comfort of your own home. Consider watching ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity,’ starring Dev Patel. It’s a great biopic of Ramanujan’s inspiring journey.

Encourage other students strengths
If there is one important factor to take away from Srinivasa Ramanujan's amazing story and success in the field of mathematics, is that he persevered despite performing horrendously at other subjects such as English, Philosophy, and Sanskrit. This shows that each student has their own strengths and weaknesses, and while it’s always important to do our best, make sure to nurture and complement a student who excels in a particular subject. Who knows, maybe that compliment will help nurture their will to perform better and even pursue their interests to amazing heights!

5 AMAZING FACTS ABOUT TRIGONOMETRY
The fundamental identities
There are eight Trigonometric identities called fundamental identities, three of them are called Pythagorean identities as they are based on the Pythagorean Theorem.

An ancient calculation
Trigonometry emerged from applications of geometry to astronomical studies in the 3rd Century BC.

Mathematics as music
Trigonometry is associated with music and plays a major role in musical theory and production — sound waves travel in a repeating wave pattern, which can be represented graphically by sine and cosine functions — a single note can be modeled on a sine curve, and a chord can be modeled with multiple sine curves used in conjunction with one another.

The meaning of Trigonometry
The word ‘Trigonometry’ comes from the word ‘Triangle Measure.’

Trigonometry helps us navigate
If it was the 1700s, and we knew trigonometry, we’d probably be a navigator on a ship — a good navigator can discover their location, even in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, with some trigonometry and a good clock.

WHY WE LOVE MATHEMATICS DAY
Mathematics is a universal language
Whether you love it or hate it, you can’t deny mathematics is the order of the world and without it, we wouldn’t be able to make much sense of it at all. Mathematics is a methodical application of matter, makes our life orderly, and prevents chaos. Certain qualities that are nurtured by mathematics are the power of reasoning, creativity, abstract or spatial thinking, critical thinking, problem-solving ability, and even more effective communication skills. A day to celebrate this field is a day worth celebrating.

It inspires us to educate ourselves
Mathematics Day is all about celebrating and recognizing the brilliant mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, who taught himself mathematics more after dropping out of college due to not excelling in other subjects. Without a formal degree, Ramanujan pursued research in mathematics on his own, living in stark poverty, on the brink of starvation. His hard work and passion helped him become one of the most recognized mathematicians today regardless of his bleak circumstances. Hard work, and a little bit of luck, really can lead us to fulfill our dreams.

Practically every career uses math
Obviously, mathematicians and scientists rely on mathematical principles to do the most basic aspects of their work, such as test hypotheses. While scientific careers famously involve math, they are not the only careers to do so. Even operating a cash register requires that one understands basic arithmetic. People working in a factory must be able to do mental arithmetic to keep track of the parts on the assembly line and must, in some cases, manipulate fabrication software utilizing geometric properties to build their products. Really, any job requires math because you must know how to interpret your paycheck and balance your budget!

https://nationaltoday.com/mathematics-day/

Coronavirus updates: $600 stimulus checks to go out next week; 2020 is deadliest year in US history; Dr. Fauci to get vaccinated
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/12/22/covid-news-anthony-fauci-moderna-vaccine-senate-stimulus-bill/3999488001/

How a pasta dinner and Zoom chats rescued the COVID-19 relief bill and led to a $900 billion deal
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/21/how-covid-19-relief-deal-came-together-over-pasta-dinner-zoom-chats/3974081001/

A ski resort, a dream and greed: How a $350M fraud happened in Vermont’s poorest region
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/nation/2020/12/22/how-jay-peak-vermont-fraud-became-example-greed-flawed-oversight/3926079001/

Experts say this is what children need to survive the pandemic
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/education/2020/12/22/pandemic-parenting-how-covid-school-screens-stress-impacts-kids/6470288002/

Sci-Fi Short Film “Plurality" | DUST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pocEN5HprsM

Jimi Hendrix: Life and Death of an Electric Alchemist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Byk_PmVKqM

How to BEAT a LUXURY BUFFET!!! UNLIMITED SEAFOOD!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBH6JjRoPT4

Advent Calendar
Dec 21, 2020

Jumping Frogs
The Story:

A group of frogs was hopping through the forest when two of them accidentally hopped into a deep pit. The other frogs stood around the pit, and, seeing how deep it was, they told the two frogs that they couldn’t help them–there was no hope.

However, fighting for their lives, the two frogs ignored the others and started to try jumping out of the pit.

The frogs at the top continued to tell the frogs in the pit to give up, as there was no way they would be able to jump out.

After trying over and over, one of the frogs listened to the others and gave up, accepting his fate and falling to his death. But the other frog continued to jump with all of his might. The crowd of frogs yelled down the pit for the frog to just stop–he wouldn’t make it.

But the frog jumped even harder and persisted until he finally got out. Upon reaching the top, the other frogs said, “We thought there was no way any frog could jump that high–couldn’t you hear us?”

The frog then signaled to the others that he was deaf, and he thought that the frogs standing around the pit were encouraging him the whole time.

The Moral:

Others’ words can greatly impact your attitude and actions. Ignore the naysayers. Only engage with those who encourage you and believe in your ability to succeed. Furthermore, think about what you say to people before speaking so you can make sure what you’re saying is supportive. Your support (or lack thereof) could make the difference between success and failure.

Advent Calendar
Dec 22, 2020

24. The Ultimate Gift
The Story:

There was once a little girl who desperately needed an emergency blood transfusion to save her life. Her only chance of surviving would be to get a transfusion from her younger brother, who had miraculously overcome the same disease she had, and therefore had antibodies in his blood that were needed to fight the illness.

The doctor explained to the little boy that it would save his sister’s life if he were to give her his blood. The boy hesitated for a moment before agreeing to give his blood if it would help his sister. At the age of 5, this was scary, but he would do anything to save his big sister’s life.

As the blood transfusion was happening, he lay next to his sister in the hospital and was overcome with happiness as he saw the color coming back to her cheeks. Then he looked up at the doctor and quietly asked, “When will I start to die?”

The boy had assumed that he was giving his life in order to save hers. The little boy’s parents were astonished over the misunderstanding that led the boy to think they were choosing his sister over him–and even more astonished that he had agreed to do so.

The doctor replied, explaining that he was not going to die, he was just going to allow his sister to live a long, healthy life alongside him.

The Moral:

This is an example of extreme courage and self-sacrificing love from a young boy that we can all learn from. The love and care that he showed for his sister relays an inspiring message about selflessness. While we may not be faced with such a life or death decision, being selfless in general can help us connect with others, which is rewarding and fulfilling. Selflessness encourages you to act from your heart instead of your ego, and can help fill your life.

NewTexas wrote:

Bingo!

Big Tex's Bingo Cards

by The Big Tex Happy Taco Stands of NewTexas

From the December 21, 2020 Game by Fort verden

Last updated: Mon Dec 21 12:57:28 2020

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From the May 5, 2019 Game by Fort verden

Last updated: Fri May 17 21:19:21 2019

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From the March 19, 2019 Game by Fort verden

Last updated: Sun Apr 28 12:47:05 2019

Read dispatch

<<Facepalm>>

Oh God Buddy! I changed the rules in Round 8:

Little thranduil wrote:

2. From now on until the end of the game, I will announce a Texas Wildflower for you to strike out each day.

New Rules: Your goal is to cover 5 lines of those squares in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal row. Each of the 5 lines corresponds to a letter in the word BINGO. When you have a BINGO, then you have won the game.

However, since this Friday is Christmas Day, I will revert to the old, Pre-Round 8 rules just for this round:

Little thranduil wrote:

2. From now on until the end of the game, I will announce a Texas Wildflower for you to strike out each day. Your goal is to cover 5 of those squares in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal row.

So having said that, Congratulations Buddy! You won this round! :)

Nyah ha ha ha! We have a Winner! NewTexas has won this round of BINGO. Congratulations Big Tex my Buddy! :)

Winners do not go away empty handed - They must win a prize and for winning this round of Bingo, your prize will be one card from my deck of Trading Cards on my nations: Fort verden, Elven king thranduil, Little thranduil and Verner von richthofen. Choose your prize and I will send it to you Buddy.

Ladies and Gentlemen of Texas,

We will take a break from our Regional BINGO Game until next Monday. I will accept that there could be more than one winner. Just for this round, everyone who has a BINGO, whether as per the current Round's rules or the pre-Round 8 rules will have until this Sunday to post in our RMB to claim your prize.