MDBCs 04 Feb 2024

Historians believe that people were hired to deliver royal letters and decrees as early as 2000 BC. The oldest recorded postal document is from Egypt and dates back to 255 BC.

This is a day to acknowledge and thank your mail person and postal worker for bringing your mail to you everyday, rain or shine, and also for not being intimated by your neighbor’s mean looking dog.

Thank Your Mailman Day is also known as National Thank Your Mailman Day in the U.S.

How to Celebrate?

Say hello to your postal worker and thank them for their service.
If you are unable to meet them in person, what about leaving a little thank you note for your mail carrier in your mailbox?
Even better, add a small homemade treat or a bar of candy with the note to show your appreciation.

Did You Know…

…that in 1920, the United States Post Office banned sending children by post?

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Create a Vacuum Day

They say that nothing ever happens in a vacuum, but this holiday - Create a Vacuum Day, on February 4 - seems to have emerged from one.

The source, or even the purpose, of this fun and geeky holiday are unknown, so we can only guess that the holiday calls for people to learn more about the science behind a vacuum and experiment with it (as much as they can with common household equipment).

The word, vacuum comes from the Latin word vacuus, meaning empty or vacant, and is used by scientists to refer to a space that does not have any matter or where the pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure.

No Perfect Vacuum

While theoretically, a perfect vacuum can exist, practically creating one is almost impossible. This is because of, what scientists call virtual particles – particles that can enter and exit a vacuum. Such particles include photons and quarks. Outer space is considered by scientists as being closest to a state of perfect vacuum as there can be, even though it is not completely devoid of matter. Apart from space debris that includes comets and asteroids, outer space has stray atoms of gases and different forms of radiation.

Household Applications

In addition to its theoretical applications, the concept of vacuum has led to many industrial and household items that we find indispensable today. In our homes, a vacuum can be used to suck up dirt through the vacuum cleaner and even light up our rooms through incandescent light bulbs. Outside, vacuum is used to pack food and other items, in vacuum pumps, and to build electron microscopes. Even car brakes work by creating a form of vacuum.

How to Celebrate?

Learn more about the science behind vacuum, a space completely empty of matter, and its practical uses.
Take out the vacuum cleaner from the closet and use it - you are due to clean your home anyway.

Did You Know…

…that the world’s first vacuum cleaner was invented in 1866 by Ives W. McGaffey in the United States?

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Stuffed Mushroom Day

February 4 is Stuffed Mushroom Day. Also known as National Stuffed Mushroom Day in the United States, this made-up holiday clearly encourages people to make and consume lots and lots of stuffed mushrooms.

A popular party dish, stuffed mushrooms are made by removing the stems and stuffing the resulting hollow space with meat and vegetable filling. Stuffed mushrooms are usually savory and are typically sprinkled with breadcrumbs and cheese and baked before being served.

Meat for Vegetarians

Mushrooms are the fleshy parts of fungi that bear spores. In many cultures, they are an integral part of the cuisine and are a prominent source of dietary minerals and vitamin B. Mushrooms are low calories and have low amounts of carbohydrates, making them an ideal diet food.

While mushrooms are botanically neither fruits or vegetables, in many parts of the world, they are considered safe for vegetarians to consume and are often considered to be a meat substitute.

How to Celebrate?

Make a huge batch of stuffed mushrooms and have them for all your meals of the day. Start will egg and bacon stuffed mushrooms for breakfast, have sausage stuffed mushrooms for lunch, and end the day with sweet potato and parmesan stuffed mushrooms.
Host a stuffed mushrooms party. Have your guests bring their favorite stuffed mushrooms to share.

Did You Know…

...that a person or an animal who eats mushrooms and fungi for nutrition is called a mycophagist?

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Once there was a guy named Bill who wanted a horse. On Craigslist, Bill saw a Christian horse so he went to check it out.

When Bill got to the ranch, the horse's owner said "It's easy to ride him. Just say 'praise the Lord' to make him go, and 'amen' to make him stop."

Bill got on the horse and said "praise the Lord." the horse started to walk.

"Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, praise the Lord" and the horse is running.

Now Bill sees the cliff and says: "AMEN."

The horse stops and Bill says: "Whew! Praise the lord!"

***

A man came through my lane at the grocery store with a jug of wine and a bouquet of roses. But before paying, he set the two items aside and said, “I’ll be right back.”

He ran off, only to return a minute later with a second jug of wine and another bouquet of roses.

“Two girlfriends?” I asked.

“No,” he said. “Just one really angry one.”

***

A customer walked into the post office wanting to mail a package. “Two-day shipping will cost $12.95 to get it there by Friday,” my coworker Billy told her.

The customer, clearly looking to save a few bucks, said, “The package doesn’t have to get there till Saturday. Is there any way to make that happen?”

Billy nodded. “Sure. You can bring it back tomorrow.”

***

I admit it—I have a tendency to exaggerate, and I was afraid when I joined the Navy that my “creativity” might get me in trouble. But my fears were put to rest one day while getting into formation, which was determined by height.

Now, I was shy of six feet tall, but when our drill sergeant called for all six-footers to line up, I stepped forward anyway. I instantly knew I was in the right outfit when I looked around.