Robin's Blue Nest

What's Your Shade?

 

 

 

"New rootin' tootin' shootin' shades for lips!"

They're the Wild Westerns by Helena Rubinstein.

The poster demands you to "Stake your claim in
Regular-Creamy, Super-Rich or Fashion Stick Lipstick. 
(Shoot the works and have Nail Fashion to match.)"

The lipstick comes in three lovely shades of pink;
Tootin' Honey, Rootin' Coral and  Shootin' Pink.

 

 

 

 

 

If your looking for more pink,
head on over to   How Sweet the Sound
where Beverly is hosting Pink Saturday. 
There you will find her pink posse
all lined up with their blogs posted.
And while you're there,
be sure to check out Susie's post at The 1st Floor Flat

Bess of Fixing My Thoughts, You need to reset your comments link. There is no way to post a comment on your blog 

 

Thank you for stopping by

and

Have a beautiful day

 

 

 

Wednesday Words

 

 

 

 

Wednesday is my day to randomly choose a word from the Merriam Webster dictionary and post it to my blog.

So as I flip through the pages of Merriam Webster's Dictionary, my eyes comes to rest on the word.....

  

Glabella

 gla·bel·la \glə-ˈbe-lə\ noun (pl. glabellae), New Latin, from Latin, feminine of glabellus - hairless, diminutive of glaber First Known Use: circa 1823

1. The smooth prominence between the eyebrows, just above the nose. 2. The corresponding area on the frontal bone between the eyebrow ridges.

 

Joan gently instructed her client on how to pluck the glabella so that the hairs wouldn't grow back forming a uni-brow.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for stopping by

and

Have a beautiful day

 

 
 

 

Treats, Treasures & Temptations

 

 

Gummy Pandas
from
Bissinger's
Handcrafted Chocolates

 

          

Bissinger's takes the childhood favorite, Gummy Bears, to a whole new level.

 

Gummy Pandas are made with hand-selected, organic sweeteners, natural fruit flavors and genuine extracts.  Packed with antioxidants, they come in six tempting complex flavors; 

• Lemon Ginger Yuzu
• Rasberry Yumberry
• Apricot Green Tea
• Blueberry Acai
• Pink Grapefruit
• Pomegranate White Tea

A truly delicious (and much healthier) choice.

 

 Ellis Island

Original Ellis Island buildings, New York Harbor 1892 - 1897

Once the original site of Fort Gibson (which was moved to Oklahoma in 1824), Ellis Island opened it's doors to receive her first 700 immigrents into the United States on January 1, 1892.  A true national treasure, Ellis Island was the historical gateway for millions of immigrants and was the nation's busiest immigration station from 1892 to 1954.  For 35 years prior to 1892, immigrants were processed at the Castle Garden Immigration Depot in lower Manhattan, NY. 

The original structures above were built of Georgia pine.  On June 15, 1897 all, both buildings and immigration records dating back to 1855, was lost to a fire.  The new structures (shown below) opened on December 17, 1900.

 
Ellis Island, New York Harbor spring of 1901

Today there is an ongoing restoration of Ellis Island.  If you would like to know more and / or help with a donation, please visit Save Ellis Island.

 

Diamond & Pearl Pendent Brooch

 

 

 We are all feeling the tight pinch of this economy; some of us more than others.  And although that means we need to watch our spending very closely, we can still look.  Right? 

Forever people have window shopped, with no intention of buying.  They have walked the malls, sat in on auctions and browsed the catalogs too.  There is nothing wrong with looking (and  maybe the occasional fantasy of how it would be to own such a piece). 

Today I am eyeing this lovely antique pendent brooch.  Circa 1880, this 18k. gold pendent / brooch utilizes a design that alternates layers of pearls and diamonds to create a dome shape of which is topped with one large pearl.  The bale itself is set with pearls and diamonds as well and can be folded down when worn as a brooch.  If you so choose to wear this piece as a pendent, the pin back is completely removable.   From the scalloped edge to the sweet heart shaped petals on top, this piece would be a beautiful reflection of love shared. 

If you just so happen to have $4,250.00 (which is the asking price)burning a hole in your pocket, you can acquire this lovely piece HERE.

 

 

 

Thank you for stopping by

and

Have a beautiful day

 

 

 

 

 

Sleeping It Off Sunday Video

 

Today's video is that of my favorite YouTube cat, Maru.  If you have never seen one of the many popular Maru videos, let me just say that he is a sweet Scottish Fold cat that love boxes and has won the hearts of many.

 

 

 

 

I have chosen this video of Maru because, with this heat that we (across this country) are experiencing, I am feeling quite drained.  I think Maru best exhibits just how I feel. 

 

 

How about you......Do you feel like Maru?

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for stopping by

and

Have a beautiful day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pink Is For Girls

 

Pink Is For Girls
That is why Lustre-Creme is pink.  Because it's made just for girls.  If you don't believe it, just breath in Lustre-Creme's pink fragrance.  See.  It's a little too delicate for anyone but a girl!  Now shampoo with pink Lustre-Creme and feel how truly soft your hair can be.  So soft, it says "touch me," and he will.

 

Ha!  Don't you just love it?

I do....I love these old ads.  You couldn't get away with an ad like this today.... its just not "politically correct".   Yeah, whatever....

Anyway.... I now want to buy a nice pink bottle of creamy pink Lustre-Creme.  Heck, I want to go out and buy my girls a bottle too.

Can you still buy a pink bottle of pink Lustre-Creme shampoo?  

I did a search. 

The only Lustre-Creme shampoo I could find was being sold at The Vermont Country Store....and it's not in a slim pink bottle.   

 And yet, I'm a bit curious about this jar of Lustre-Creme as well.

The Vermont Country Store's sales pitch is just as enticing.

 "So many of you wrote in to tell us of your affection for Lustre-Creme Shampoo that we decided to bring it back. After several months of painstaking research, we've re-created this lanolin-blessed, Hollywood-endorsed beauty secret. Lustre-Creme Shampoo leaves hair fragrantly clean without drying or dulling. Relive the glamour! 4 oz. jar.

• Lustre-Creme leaves your hair fragrantly clean and soft
• Creamy lather, even in the hardest water
• Endorsed by many Hollywood beauties in the 40's, 50's, and 60's

Luster-Creme Shampoo: "It never dries…it beautifies."

price $ 14.95

There is something to say, in this world of constant change, about a product that is still in demand decades down the road, by generation after generation.  I just wish it came in a pretty pink bottle (or jar).  Because, pink is for girls.....

 

If you love pink and would love to spend your weekend (indoors out of the heat) surrounded by pink, head on over to How Sweet The Sound; where Beverly is hosting her pinkishly fabulous Pink Saturday all weekend.

 

While you are there be sure to link up with Riet's Photoblog where Riet is sharing her lovely floral photos from the gardens of England. 

 

 

Thank you for stopping by

and

Have a beautiful day

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, it's hot out there!

 
I went out to work in the yard this morning; hoping to avoid the high summer temperatures.  Weather.com said it was still in the mid 70s.  I suppose I should have checked the humidity. 

I originally had planned to weed, trim up the holly and dead head a few perennials and, if all went well, mow the back yard.  Well, I started with the perennials...humid but not too bad.  Next, I cut back the holly and the privet.....began to work up a good sweat.  Next, I weeded a bit.....gee, it's getting HOT!  It wasn't 9 o'clock yet and I was spent.....hot, tired, dizzy and saturated from head to toe (with sweat).  Yeah...I was done for the day.  No chance of that back yard (any yard) getting cut today.

I went inside, drank two glasses of iced tea and then went up to take a nice long cool shower.

Since,....I have been doing a little e-mail and blog hopping and, for the life of me, I can barely get through a (blogger's) post without fading in and out of conscious thought, comprehending what I had just read and posting my reply.  I guess it was a tad hotter (out there) than I thought.

I hope everyone is staying cool and dry.

 

[updated July 22, 2011]

I went outside again this morning to try to cut that grass.
I edged the entire yard and cut the lower part of the back yard (leaving the 2 hills to go till we have cooler weather.  I might try to cut the front yard tomorrow, but I'm not all that concerned with it.  It had been cut last Friday and hasn't grown much at all.  A matter of fact, it looks as though I had cut it today, especially now that I edged it. 

It is times like this when I question my husbands sanity, wanting to retire on 15 plus acres. 

 

 

Thank you for stopping by

and

Have a beautiful day

 

 

 

Wednesday Words

 

 

 

I have decided to make Wednesday a regularly posted word day; titling it Wednesday Words.

So as I flip through the pages of Merriam Webster's Dictionary, my eye comes to rest on the word.....

 

Ecchymosis

ec·chy·mo·sis \ noun, plural  -mo·sēz \ from [Greek ekchymōsis, from ekchymousthai to extravasate blood, from ex- + chymos juice -- more at CHYME] (1541) : the escape of blood into the tissues from ruptured blood vessels -- ec·chy·mot·ic \ -'mä·tik \ adj. 

 see also: bruise and hematoma

 

My doctor loves to throw around big medical terms.  Just the other day he told me my ecchymosis is healing well.  What he meant was my big bruise is fading nicely. 

 

 

 

Thank you for stopping by

and

Have a beautiful day

 

 

 

Treats, Treasures & Temptations

 

 

Peppermint Candy Buttons
from
 Andie Specialty Sweets 

image from andiespecialtysweets

This bowl of vintage buttons are actually peppermint candy.  Are they not the sweetest things you have ever seen?  You can buy these lovely pastel vintage buttons here, from Andie Specialty Sweets. 

 

 

 

 A Basket of Treasures
from
Tricia Fountain

 

 Tricia of Conversations with the Muses sent me this vintage basket filled with vintage teacups, saucers, napkins and tea for making a donation to The Lucky Few.  The Lucky Few is a non profit organization dedicated to helping unwanted animals, most of which are cats.  Obviously, being a cat owner / lover myself, Tricia did not have to reward me for my contributions.  I regularly donate to my local humane society, Potter League,  and to The Humane Society of the U.S.

Please follow the highlighted links if you should care to make a donation as well.  Every little bit helps and is greatly needed and appreciated.

 

 

 

This Beach Thingy
is
Quite Tempting 

 

from http://www.beachthingy.com

It is obvious, by it's name, that this object is something for the beach....something to use at the beach.  What it is exactly, is not so obvious.  This happy green object is in fact a super light yet very strong stackable chair back.  When shoved into the sand, it creates a lovely chair out of your chosen beach spot. 

The Beach Thingy is made of polypropylene with a 20% reinforcing fiber.  It comes in 4 bright beachy colors; blue, orange, yellow and green; and can be purchased on line HERE

The designer, Larry Laske, is a holder of several utility patents, appeared in museums the world over, worked for and with such companies as Dansk, Alessi, Esprit and Steelcase, and has landed many awards through the years.
                               "This chair is not about creating a lounge chair, but to create a lightweight, durable backrest. The prongs penetrate into the sand far enough to be stable, and because the chair is made of plastic it is flexible, making it extremely comfortable."

                                                                              -- Larry Laske

 

 

 

 

Thank you for stopping by

and

Have a beautiful day

 

Sleeping It Off Sunday

 

 

 

 

This week I am leaving you with something fun.  Today's video is a stop-motion video by Mystery Guitar Man.  It is his latest....but not necessarily his greatest.  He has made some 146 videos now.  If you recall, he is the mastermind behind that old favorite (of mine) Bubble Rap.

 

 1000 Guitars

 

 

If you like that which you have just watched, you might
want to click on over to YouTube and check out more of
Mystery Guitar Man's videos.

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by

and

Have a beautiful day

 

 

Can You Pass The Test?

 

Those who apply for citizenship into the U.S. are required to take a 10 question test administered by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

These 10 (questions) are drawn randomly from a bank of 100 (questions)

During the citizenship test, an official interviewer reads the questions in English and the applicant must answer in English. The applicant must answer 6 of the 10 questions correctly to pass the test.

Have you ever wondered what sort of questions are on that test? Could you pass the test?

Below is a list of the 100 questions that the 10 questions are drawn from.

I have listed the answers to these 100 questions at the bottom so that you can test yourself, and then check to see if your answers are correct.

 

 

The 100 questions that the random 10 questions are drawn from

1. What is the supreme law of the land?

2. What does the Constitution do?

3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

4. What is an amendment?

5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?

7. How many amendments does the Constitution have?

8. What did the Declaration of Independence do?

9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

10. What is freedom of religion?

11. What is the economic system in the United States?

12. What is the "rule of law"?

13. Name one branch or part of the government.

14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?

16. Who makes federal laws?

17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

 18. How many U.S. Senators are there?

19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?

20. Who is one of your state's U.S. Senators?

21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

22. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?

23. Name your U.S. Representative.

24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

26. We elect a President for how many years?

27. In what month do we vote for President?

28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?

29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

31. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

33. Who signs bills to become laws?

34. Who vetoes bills?

35. What does the President's Cabinet do?

36. What are two Cabinet-level positions?

37. What does the judicial branch do?

38. What is the highest court in the United States?

39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States?

41. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?

42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

43. Who is the Governor of your state?

44. What is the capital of your state?*

45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?*

46. What is the political party of the President now?

47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?

48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*

50. What are two rights only for United States citizens?

51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?

52. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?

53. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?

54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*

55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?*

57. When must all men register for the Selective Service?

58. What is one reason colonists came to America?

59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

60. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?

61. Why did the colonists fight the British?

62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

64. There were 13 original states. Name three.

65. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

66. When was the Constitution written?

67. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.

68. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

69. Who is the "Father of Our Country"?

70. Who was the first President?*

71. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?

72. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.

73. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.

74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.

75. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?*

76. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?

78. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*

79. Who was President during World War I?

80. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?

81. Who did the United States fight in World War II?

82. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?

83. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?

84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

85. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*

86. What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?

87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.

88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.

89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?

90. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?

91. Name one U.S. territory.

92. Name one state that borders Canada.

93. Name one state that borders Mexico.

94. What is the capital of the United States?*

95. Where is the Statue of Liberty?*

96. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

97. Why does the flag have 50 stars?*

98. What is the name of the national anthem?

99. When do we celebrate Independence Day?*

100. Name two national U.S. holidays.

 

Answers to the questions above:
Some of the questions (above) have more than one correct answer. When such the case, all acceptable answers are shown.
All answers below are worded exactly as they are worded by the USCIS. These are the correct answers.

1. the Constitution

2. sets up the government, defines the government, protects basic rights of Americans

3. We the people

4. a change (to the Constitution) or an addition (to the Constitution)

5. the Bill of Rights

6. speech, religion, assembly, press, petition the government

7. twenty-seven (27)

8. announced our independence (from Great Britain) or
declared our independence (from Great Britain) or
said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)

9. life, liberty, pursuit of happiness

10. You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.

11. capitalist economy or market economy

12. Everyone must follow the law.
Leaders must obey the law.
Government must obey the law.
No one is above the law.

13. Congress or legislative or President or executive or the courts or judicial

14. checks and balances, separation of powers

15. the President

16. Congress, Senate and House (of Representatives), (U.S. or national) legislature

17. the Senate and House (of Representatives)

18. one hundred (100)

19. six (6)

20. Answers will vary.

21. four hundred thirty-five (435)

22. two (2)

23. Answers will vary.

24. all people of the state

25. (because of) the state's population or
(because) they have more people or
(because) some states have more people

26. four (4)

27. November

28. Barack H. Obama or Barack Obama or Obama

29. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. or Joe Biden or Biden

30. the Vice President

31. the Speaker of the House

32. the President

33. the President

34. the President

35. advises the President

36. Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Defense
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Homeland Security
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Interior
Secretary of State
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Treasury
Secretary of Veterans' Affairs
Secretary of Labor
Attorney General

37. reviews laws
explains laws
resolves disputes (disagreements)
decides if a law goes against the Constitution

38. the Supreme Court

39. nine (9)

40. John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.)

41. to print money
to declare war
to create an army
to make treaties

42. provide schooling and education
provide protection (police)
provide safety (fire departments)
give a driver's license
approve zoning and land use

43. Answers will vary.

44. Answers will vary.

45. Democratic and Republican

46. Democratic (Party)

47. John Boehner

48. Citizens eighteen (18) and older can vote.
You don't have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.
Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)
A male citizen of any race (can vote).

49. serve on a jury, vote

50. apply for a federal job
vote
run for office
carry a U.S. passport

51. freedom of expression
freedom of speech
freedom of assembly
freedom to petition the government
freedom of worship
the right to bear arms

52. the United States
the flag

53. give up loyalty to other countries
defend the Constitution and laws of the United States
obey the laws of the United States
serve in the U.S. military (if needed)
serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)
be loyal to the United States

54. eighteen (18) and older

55. vote
join a political party
help with a campaign
join a civic group
join a community group
give an elected official your opinion on an issue
call Senators and Representatives
publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
run for office
write to a newspaper

56. April 15

57. at age eighteen (18)
between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)

58. freedom, political liberty, religious freedom, economic opportunity,
practice their religion, escape persecution

59. Native Americans (or American Indians)

60. Africans (or people from Africa)

61. because of high taxes (taxation without representation),
because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)
and because they didn't have self-government

62. Thomas Jefferson

63. July 4, 1776

64. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia

65. The Constitution was written. (or The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.)

66. 1787

67. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Publius

68. U.S. diplomat, oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
first Postmaster General of the United States, writer of "Poor Richard's Almanac",
started the first free libraries

69. George Washington

70. George Washington

71. the Louisiana Territory (or Louisiana)

72. War of 1812, Mexican-American War, Civil War
Spanish-American War

73. the Civil War (or the War between the States)

74. slavery, economic reasons, states' rights

75. freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation), saved (or preserved) the Union,
led the United States during the Civil War

76. freed the slaves, (or freed slaves in the Confederacy,
freed slaves in the Confederate states, freed slaves in most Southern states

77. fought for women's rights, fought for civil rights

78. World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War,
(Persian) Gulf War

79. Woodrow Wilson

80. Franklin Roosevelt

81. Japan, Germany and Italy

82. World War II

83. Communism

84. civil rights (movement)

85. fought for civil rights (or worked for equality for all Americans)

86. Terrorists attacked the United States.

87. Cherokee, Navajo, Sioux, Chippewa, Choctaw,
Pueblo, Apache, Iroquois, Creek, Blackfeet,
Seminole, Cheyenne, Arawak, Shawnee, Mohegan,
Huron, Oneida, Lakota, Crow, Teton, Hopi, Inuit

88. Missouri (River) and Mississippi (River)

89. Pacific (Ocean)

90. Atlantic (Ocean)

91. Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa,
Northern Mariana Islands, Guam

92. Maine, New Hampshire,Vermont, New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota,
North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington,
Alaska

93. California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas

94. Washington, D.C.

95. New York (Harbor) (or Liberty Island)

96. because there were 13 original colonies (or because the stripes represent the original colonies)

97. because there is one star for each state (or because there are 50 states)

98. The Star-Spangled Banner

99. July 4

100. New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, Presidents' Day,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day,
Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas

 

 

Thank you for stopping by

and

Have a beautiful day

 

 

 

Wednesday Words

 

 

I have decided to make Wednesday a regularly posted word day; titling it Wednesday Words.

So as I flip through the pages of Merriam Webster's Dictionary, my eye comes to rest on the word.....

 

Choplogic

chop·log·ic \ chäp-lä-jik \ n [obsolete, chop to exchange, trade, from Middle English choppen to barter] (1533) : involved and often specious argumentation -- choplogic  adj.

He was so choplogic in his  manner, that I grew tired of arguing and left.

 

Is Everyone Leaving Facebook for Google+ ?

 

  

 

Is Everyone Leaving

 

   

  

 

 

 

 

 

for  Google+ ?

 

 

Sleeping It Off Sunday

 

 

 Today's video is another from the very talented TSO Photography.

It is a time-lapse movie filmed on the archipelago Lofoten, of Nordland Norway (which lies within in the Arctic Circle).  It is the finished product of a twelve day shooting, recording a natural light display that occurs two to four weeks before the Midnight Sun.

 

"My favorite natural phenomenon is one I do not even know the name of, even after talking to meteorologists and astrophysicists I am none the wiser.What I am talking about I have decided to call The Arctic Light" -- TSO  

 

The">http://vimeo.com/24456787">The Arctic Light from TSO">http://vimeo.com/terjes">TSO Photography on Vimeo.

You can read more of TSO and his first hand account in creating this beautiful movie HERE

 

 

Thank you for stopping by

and

Have a beautiful day

 

 

Playing With Paper

It has been raining heavy, non-stop, all day
.....tons of rain.

 
I decided to have a little indoor fun.  With paper, craft wire and floral tape, I found myself making these paper flowers. 

Two weeks ago (while out surfing the net using StumbleUpon.com) I quite literally "stumbled" upon the simple directions for rolled paper flowers.  Lucky for me (and you) I bookmarked the page HERE.

 

Using that which I already had, I gave it a go. 

 

 And then I dressed them up with a little glitter.

 

And since my paper flowers are pink,
I offer them up for Pink Saturday.

 

 If you would like to see more pink, head on over to How Sweet The Sound.  It is there that Beverly hosts her oh so popular Pink Saturday. 

 

And while you are there,
be sure to visit Lynn at The Vintage Nest .

 

 

Thank you for stopping by

and

Have a beautiful day

 

 

Wednesday Words

Years ago, once a week, I used to leaf through the pages of Merriam - Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and randomly grab a new word.  I would learn the spelling, pronunciation and it's meaning.  I would then try to use that word as often as I could (without being too irritating to others) for the rest of the week.  And yet, with all the distractions in life and numerous reasons to put it off, my word searches didn't last long.

Today I have decided to give it another try.  Better yet, I thought I would post and share my word finds.  Therefore, I have decided to take this day, Wednesday, as my regularly posted word day and title it Wednesday Words.

So as I flip through the pages of Merriam Webster's Dictionary, my eye comes to rest on the word.....or I should say words....

 

Markov Chain
 

Mar·kov chain\mär-,kof, -,kov\ chān
noun "[A. A. Markov - a Russian mathematician] (1942) : a usu. discrete stochastic process (as a random walk) in which the probabilities of occurrence of various future states depend only on the present state of the system or on the immediately preceding state and not on the path by which the present state was achieved.  --  called also the Markoff chain"¹

It is a mathematical system that goes through changes in a chain like manner whereas the next state depends only on the current state, not on it's entire past changes.

 

 
 ^{image from Wikimedia Commons}

 

Markov chain as applied to board games played with dice:

"A game of snakes and ladders or any other game whose moves are determined entirely by dice is a Markov chain. This is in contrast to card games such as blackjack, where the cards represent a 'memory' of the past moves. To see the difference, consider the probability for a certain event in the game. In the above mentioned dice games, the only thing that matters is the current state of the board. The next state of the board depends on the current state, and the next roll of the dice. It doesn't depend on how things got to their current state. In a game such as blackjack, a player can gain an advantage by remembering which cards have already been shown (and hence which cards are no longer in the deck), so the next state (or hand) of the game is not independent of the past states."²

You can read more about Markov chain at Britannica.com

To learn more about Andrei A. Markov and his work:
https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/meyn/www/spm_files/Markov-Work-and-life.pdf

 

 

 

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1.  http://mw2.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/markov

2.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Examples_of_Markov_chains

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