4 Likes
Good morning! 
It is Monday, 26 April 2021
(W17 | D116 | 249 rem)
Today is: 
International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day 
An explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986 spread a radioactive cloud over large parts of the Soviet Union, (now the territories of Belarus, Ukraine and the Russian Federation.) Nearly 8.4 million people in the three countries were exposed to the radiation. The Soviet Government acknowledged the need for international assistance only in 1990.
On 8 December 2016 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 26 April as International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day. In its resolution, the General Assembly recognized that three decades after the disaster there remains persistent serious long-term consequences and that the affected communities and territories are experiencing continuing related needs.
Chernobyl has affected the lives of many people all over Europe to this day. The affected areas of the Chernobyl Disaster are said to last at least 150 years before proper inhabitation can come again.
The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was built in 1977 to help make electricity for the infrastructure of the Soviet Union, or in modern-day terms, Pripyat, Ukraine, to develop economic growth. Before the infamous incident, in 1982 the nuclear plant had a partial meltdown of reactor 1, causing some damage and taking a few months to repair.
The initial accident wasn’t reported until the Chernobyl Disaster happened. The disaster was caused by a power surge that caused core explosions and open fires, leading to significant radiation leakage to disperse into the atmosphere and surrounding lands. Large areas of Europe were affected by this event as the radiation spread as far as Norway.
Although the incident caused the plant to be shut down, the effects of this accident led to long-lasting, damaging consequences. The main danger that caused radiation exposure to over 8.4 million people was due to air pollution.
Further Reading:
Have a happy, fallout-free Monday! 
4 Likes
It is Tuesday, 27 April 2021
(W17 | D117 | 248 rem)
Today is: Morse Code Day
.... .- .--. .--. -.-- / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / -.. .- -.--
We’ve heard the sound in movies both old and new, it finds its way into horror movies as some lost mysterious code. Heroes in action flicks use it to help send out secret messages past the villains holding them captive, and secret lovers have passed messages using it in carefully constructed pieces of art or even braille. It served as the foundation for a new era of communication, and has served vital roles in wars old and new. What is it we’re talking about? Morse Code of course!
27 April is the birthday of Samuel Morse, who was also a respected portrait artist, as well as an inventor.
Morse Code Day celebrates this amazingly concise, powerful, and influential way of transmitting information and the history of how it changed the world.
In 1838, Samuel Morse and his assistant Alfred Vail developed a system of dots and dashes that corresponded to numbers, letters, and punctuation, that became known as Morse Code.
It was used to transmit messages using electrical signals, which originally traveled by wire, before being recorded by a receiving device on the other end that embossed the code on a strip of paper which could then be read. Although the use of Morse Code became less common after the advent of the telephone, it was an important innovation that enabled long-distance communication to become more widespread.
We’ve tried posting Morse code translations here before, sometimes not entirely successfully. The forum does odd things to sequences of dots and dashes for some reason. If you do want to give it a try, use any one of the many online Morse Code Translators (here’s the one I used) to convert your comment to Morse and then paste it in here, and let’s see if it works a little better now.
Have a well coded Tuesday! #-.. --- -. - -... . -.- .- -.-
Today is also Freedom Day 
in South Africa.
Freedom Day on 27 April is an annual celebration of South Africa’s first non-racial democratic elections of 1994. It is significant because it marks the end of over three hundred years of colonialism, segregation and white minority rule and the establishment of a new democratic government.
The 1994 election paved the way towards a new democratic dispensation and a new constitution for the country. The elections took place in a peaceful and festive atmosphere, though there were threats of political violence.
Of South Africa’s 22, 7 million eligible voters, 19.7 million voted in the 1994 national election. The election was won by the ANC with 62.65 % of the vote.
Although the ANC gained a majority vote, they formed the Government of National Unity, headed by the president of the ANC’s Nelson Mandela who became the first democratically elected President of the country.
As dawn ushered in this day, the 27th of April 1994, few of us could suppress the welling of emotion, as we were reminded of the terrible past from which we come as a nation; the great possibilities that we now have; and the bright future that beckons us. And so we assemble here today, and in other parts of the country, to mark a historic day in the life of our nation. Wherever South Africans are across the globe, our hearts beat as one, as we renew our common loyalty to our country and our commitment to its future.
Nelson Mandela, 27 April 1995, Parliament of South Africa
5 Likes
I figured out why posting Morse Code into the forum doesn’t work. Sequential dashes are automatically converted into em dashes and longer double em dashes.
-- becomes –
--- becomes —
To avoid it, post your Morse between code markers (the </> tool on the toolbar):
-- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / -.. .- -.--
2 Likes
It is Wednesday, 28 April 2021
(W17 | D118 | 247 rem)
Today is: Global Pay it Forward Day
Every year on April 28th, Global Pay It Forward Day encourages people around the world to engage in a small act of kindness. It’s a day to respond to someone’s kindness toward you by being kind to someone else.
Blake Beattie started Global Pay It Forward Day in 2007. Beattie is an international speaker, author, and management consultant from Australia. The book, “Pay It Forward” by American novelist Catherine Ryan Hyde inspired him to start this day of kindness. This special day is currently celebrated in 85 countries.
Has someone ever done something nice for you when you least expected it? Maybe they bought you a small gift. Or they gave you a hug just because.
There is a good chance that when someone extended kindness, it made you happy. The act may have made you cry tears of joy. This is what kindness does. And this is why the world needs more of it. When people are kind, it makes you want to be kind in return. Can you imagine if everyone in the world was kind to one another all of the time? Maybe this seems impossible, but it doesn’t mean you can’t try to show more kindness to others.
If someone has recently done something kind for you, why not pay it forward? Do something kind for someone else in return. If you’re not sure how you can pay it forward, here are some great ideas:
- Buy the coffee or meal for the person behind you in line (a great place to do this is the drive-thru).
- Pay a compliment to at least three people you see.
- Send a positive text message or gif to five people on your contact list.
- Send a friend a bouquet of flowers or a box of chocolates.
- Offer free babysitting or dog walking for a friend or family member.
- Donate to a charitable organization.
- Buy a neighbor in need a gift card to a grocery or department store.
There are many, many ways to pay it forward. The key is to extend kindness to someone who least expects it!
Have a mega Wednesday, my Dudes! Pay it forward! Be kind! Do good! #DontBeKak 
5 Likes
It is Thursday, 29 April 2021
(W17 | D119 | 246 rem)
Today is: International Dance Day 
International Dance Day is an annual celebration of how dancing positively impacts our lives. The human body’s ability to move, groove, pop, and lock has captivated the way we interact with music and express ourselves artistically.
The International Dance Committee (CDI, in relation with UNESCO) established the International Dance Day in 1982 and its date of April 29th was chosen to commemorate the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), the creator of modern ballet.
The day promotes art and culture, raises awareness among the public regarding the “art of dance”. It also spread education about several forms of dance and its value in its art form.
International Dance Day is a global celebration of dance, created by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute, the main partner for the performing arts of UNESCO. The event takes place every year on 29 April, which is the anniversary of the birth of Jean-Georges Noverre, the creator of modern ballet.
The art of dance is one of the earliest and longest-standing forms of entertainment and community activity known to humankind. While it continues to be practiced by millions of people daily, Dance Day is a precise moment in the calendar where everyone is invited to take part in an extremely enjoyable pastime. Even those with two left feet.
Dance is one of the ultimate activities to destress, lose inhibitions, meet new people, and boost physical health. The annual tradition encapsulates people around the globe, from professional dancers to individuals that would usually stand well back.
The art of dance can be traced back at least 9,000 years to ancient Indian paintings, while ceremonial dances appeared in many other ancient cultures. It has been a central ingredient in human life ever since with everyone from tribespeople to professional entertainers showcasing their talents. The great thing is that it can be enjoyed by everybody regardless of their natural rhythm or dance capabilities. Dance Day aims to celebrate a world of dance.
In addition to encouraging dance from participants of all ability levels, Dance Day is a true global celebration that breaks down barriers to bring people together. Every dance is welcomed with open arms from traditional ceremonial dances like the Haka, Rejang dance, and Kagura to modern street dance and jumpstyle electronic dance. It includes dances that are steeped in heritage as well as contemporary styles that borrow attributes from various sources.
Kizomba, jazz dance, American rhythm, Latin, ballet, and country dances can be enjoyed on the day by solo dancers, duets, small groups, or huge collectives. Dance Day celebrates the free and unrestricted nature of dance, as well as the concepts of working together and celebrating cultural differences while also realizing that we are all united. Dance is one of the best ways to introduce people to other traditions and can help people connect to others. The annual event serves as the flag-bearer for all of those features and more.
So dance my friends. Dance all day. Dance like no-one is watching you! And have a fantastic Thursday!
4 Likes
Yay for international dance day! So to celebrate I share a video of me winning the beginner class Fred Astaire competition with this Rumba:
8 Likes
I’d share a video of me dancing but I’m scared
Happy dance day
4 Likes
Don’t be scared. This is a Safe Space.
Share and know that we only tease those we like (and are a little jealous of - I have zero rhythm myself).
3 Likes
Says file too big XD
3 Likes
Saved by file size!!! 
YESSSSSS
3 Likes
Have you heard of youtube?
4 Likes
There’s no way I’m uploading this
1 Like
Now you have to send it to me via whatsapp
3 Likes
Don’t make Wyvern go to Bloemfontein to chase you up!
4 Likes
It’s a stupid video why do you guys want to see it?
3 Likes
BEcause you mentioned it!
3 Likes
Oooiiiii you saw it
2 Likes