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sandrewn

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  1. January 28th 2026 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Joseph Freinademetz Julian of Cuenca Thomas Aquinas January 28 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Army Day (Armenia) Data Privacy Day Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) American Immigration Lawyers Association Day of Action Christa McAuliffe Day Global Community Engagement Day International Reducing CO2 Emissions Day José Martí's Birthday Memorial Julian Felipe Day Lego Day Library Shelfie Day National Blueberry Pancake Day National Daisy Day National Kazoo Day National Kazoo Day National Pediatrician Day Pop Art Day Rattlesnake Roundup Day Thank a Plugin Developer Day National Gift of the Ladybug Day World Geoffroy’s Cat Day Texas Cowboy Poetry Week Multicultural Children’s Book Day Aka’s Birthday Anthony Hamilton’s Birthday Elijah Wood’s Birthday J Cole’s Birthday Jeremiah McDonald’s Birthday Marcus Dobre’s Birthday Rick Ross’s Birthday That Girl Lay Lay’s Birthday Fun Observances (2) Fun at Work Day Have double the fun on April 1, because it is not only April Fool’s Day but it is also Fun at Work Day. Sometimes celebrated on January 28, the day encourages people to add some fun to their workday. How to Celebrate? Here are some ideas on what you can do to make work fun on Fun at Work Day or any other day: Bake goodies and bring them for your colleagues. Play harmless pranks on your colleagues and coworkers. Watch Office Space or a few episodes of The Office at work. With the consent of your supervisor, spend some time playing board games at work. Did You Know… …that studies have shown that a person's perception of time changes when they are having fun? According to these studies, having fun can help pass the time faster. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Data Privacy Day January 28 is Data Privacy Day. It is observed every year in the United States, United Kingdom, and many other European countries. Also known as Data Protection Day in Europe, the day celebrates the anniversary of the signing of the Council of Europe's Convention for the Protection of Individuals with Regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data in 1981. The holiday was first celebrated in 2007 and promotes the need for data privacy. It also helps raise awareness about how people can protect their data and their privacy, online and offline. How to Celebrate? On this day, companies and governments hold events and seminars that talk about issues of online security, privacy, and data protection. Attend one of these events. If you work for a company that works with data, why not suggest holding a data protection workshop? Shred important paperwork containing personal information that you no longer need. Educate the children and teenagers in your life to be careful about giving out their personal information to strangers. Did You Know… …that the United States Congress passed a resolution declaring January 28 as Data Privacy Day in 2009? *** My teenage patient’s mother was concerned. “He must have a temperature,” she said. “He hasn’t taken our motorcycle out all day.” “Let me ask you,” I said. “Do you have a thermometer?” “No,” she said. “A Kawasaki.” *** Professionals at the staffing agency Robert Half International have seen a lot of peculiar résumés. Here are some favorite gaffes, followed by wisecracks from the pros: • Education: “I have a bachelorette degree in computers.” (The pajama party starts at 7 p.m.) • Tools: “Human brain 1.0.” (We’ll wait for the upgrade.) • References: “My landscaper.” 
(A reference who will give you two green thumbs up.) • Date of Employment: “2002–9999.” (She’s earned her gold watch!) • Experience: “Worked successfully on a team of one.” (I assume you all got along?) *** A friend was ordering her meal at a drive-through when she noticed she could get a side dish gratis. “And I’ll take the free wiffie also,” she said. “What?” asked the clerk. “The free wiffie,” she said, pointing to the sign. “Ma’am, that’s ‘Free Wi-Fi.’ ” *** The CEO of a large corporation was giving advice to a junior executive. “I was young, married, and out of work,” he lectured. “I took the last nickel I had and bought an apple. I polished it and sold it for a dime. The next day I bought two apples, polished them, and sold them for ten cents each.” “I see,” said the junior executive. “You kept reinvesting your money and grew a big business.” “No,” said the CEO. “Then my wife’s father died and left me a fortune.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Crypt of Civilization - Wikipedia *** *** Mountain Dew - Wikipedia *** *** *** *** Why Our Mouth Waters Before We Puke | by Sam Westreich, PhD | Sharing Science | Medium *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Scorpion Venom Is the Most Expensive Liquid in the World *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn
  2. Just the facts: SUBTEXT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster Examples of 'SUBTEXT' in a Sentence | Merriam-Webster SUBTEXT Related Words - Merriam-Webster
  3. January 27th 2026 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Angela Merici Blessed Paul Joseph Nardini Devota (Monaco) Enrique de Ossó y Cercelló John Chrysostom (translation of relics) (Anglican, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox) Sava (Serbia) January 27 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of the lifting of the siege of Leningrad (Russia) Liberation of the remaining inmates of Auschwitz-related observances: Holocaust Memorial Day (UK) International Holocaust Remembrance Day Memorial Day (Italy) Other Holocaust Memorial Days observances Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) National Geographic Day National Plan for Vacation Day Punch the Clock Day Speak Up and Succeed Day Thomas Crapper Day Vietnam Peace Day World Breast Pumping Day Up-Helly-Aa Benny Soliven’s Birthday Carl Radke’s Birthday FaZe Sway’s Birthday Kathleen Lights’s Birthday Vincent Herbert’s Birthday Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Birthday Mimi Rogers Patton Oswalt Fun Observances (2) Chocolate Cake Day Chocolate Cake Day on January 27 celebrates everyone’s and their grandma's favorite cake Take a break from healthy eating and indulge in chocolate cake by having it for every meal on this awesome food holiday. A New Invention While cake as a sweet treat and chocolate as a drink have been around since ancient times, chocolate cake is a fairly recent invention. It is believed that the world's first chocolate cake was baked around the late 1800s after Bostonian Dr. James Baker discovered that one could grind cocoa using a water powered mill. Many Kinds Since then, chocolate cake has rightfully become its own category of cake, with many different styles of chocolate cakes baked and consumed around the world. Some of the more popular types include German chocolate cake, Black Forest cake, chocolate fudge cake, and molten lava cake. Chocolate Cake Day is also known as National Chocolate Cake Day in the United States. Chocolate is a very popular theme for a fun holiday. Other chocolate flavored holidays are Chocolate Pudding Day, Milk Chocolate Day, Chocolate Pecan Pie Day, Chocolate Milkshake Day, Chocolate Cupcake Day, and Chocolate Covered Anything Day. How to Celebrate? With lots of chocolate cake, of course. Have chocolate cake for all your meals. Instead of bread to make French toast, use a slice of chocolate cake. Bake chocolate cake and bring it with you to work and celebrate this dessert with your co-workers and friends. Did You Know… …that the word chocolate comes from the Aztec word xocotal, meaning bitter water? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ e-Day e-Day celebrates the mathematical constant e, which has a value of 2.7182818. It is celebrated on February 7 in countries that follow the month/day (m/d) date format. This is because the first two digits of the date - 2/7 - correspond to the first two digits of the constant. People living in countries that follow the day/month (d/m) format celebrate it on January 27. The first three digits of this date - 27/1 - match up with the first three digits of e (2.71). Euler’s Number Also known Euler’s number, after the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler, e is an irrational number that represents the idea that all continually growing systems are a scaled version of a common rate. It is mostly used in logarithms, exponential growth, and complex numbers. It is one of the most important numbers in mathematics, including 0, 1 and pi (π). e is also sometimes called the Napier's Constant and is often incorrectly referred to Euler's Constant. Euler's Constant is denoted by lower case gamma (γ) and has a value of 0.57721. Other e Days Many European countries celebrate Euro Day, sometimes also called e Day. The day is observed on January 1 and celebrates the anniversary of the adoption of the Euro, Europe's common currency in 2002. In New Zealand, eDay is a day where people can get rid of e-waste or old electronics such as computers and old appliances so they can be recycled rather than being placed in a landfill. Engineer’s Day is observed in Paducah, Kentucky on February 21, where many people participate in an egg drop contest, create edible cars, and tape people to walls. Other Mathematical Holidays The year is full of mathematical and scientific holidays. Some of these include: Yellow Pig Day, Mole Day, Fibonacci Day, Palindrome Day, and Pi-Day. Use our Date Pattern Calculator to find out other interesting calendar dates during the year. How to Celebrate? Celebrate this fun mathematical holiday by learning more about Euler's number and its importance in mathematics and science. Eat foods that begin with e - make eggs, eggplant, or eclairs. Make eggnog as a before dinner refreshment or eggs benedict for breakfast. Did You Know... ...that there is an island in northern Scotland called Eday? *** Although I’d been dating a woman for several months, I guess I didn’t know her as well as I thought. One day I called, and her ten-year-old son answered. “Hi,” I said. “It’s Tom. Can I speak with your mom?” He responded, “Are you Tom One or Tom Two?” Needless to say, his mother is now down to one Tom. *** I’m lucky that my wife and mother are very close. I realized just how close the time I drove my mother to her doctor, which my wife usually does. When the doctor came into the room, my own dear mother introduced me as her “daughter-in-law’s husband.” *** I was really embarrassed when my wife caught me playing with my son’s train set by myself. In a moment of panic, I threw a bedsheet over it. I think I managed to cover my tracks. *** My wife said she was leaving me because of my obsession with wearing different clothes every half an hour. I said, “Wait, I can change.” *** During a conference, I was pleasantly surprised to be seated next to a very handsome man. We flirted casually through dinner, then grew restless as the dignitaries gave speeches. During one particularly long-winded lecture, my new friend drew a # sign on a cocktail napkin. Elated, I wrote down my phone number. Looking startled for a moment, he drew another # sign, this time adding an X to the upper-left-hand corner. *** A woman and her husband stop at a dentist’s office. “I need a tooth pulled right away,” 
she says. “Don’t bother with the Novocain; we’re in a hurry.” “Which tooth do 
you want pulled?” asks the dentist. The woman shoves her husband toward the dentist. “Go ahead, dear. Show him your tooth.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn
  4. Just the facts: CONSISTENCY Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster CONSISTENCY Synonyms: 10 Similar Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus Examples of 'CONSISTENCY' in a Sentence | Merriam-Webster CONSISTENT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster CONSISTENCE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
  5. Jeepers creepers: Massive spider eyes shrink 25% in adulthood | Nebraska Today
  6. January 26th 2026 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Saint Alberic of Cîteaux Blessed Gabriele Allegra Saint Paula of Rome January 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Australia Day (Australia) Republic Day (India) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Better Business Communication Day Birth Anniversary of National Artist Napoleon Abueva Dental Drill Appreciation Day Duarte Day International Customs Day International Environmental Education Day Lotus 1-2-3 Day National Bible Day National Green Juice Day National Peanut Brittle Day Northland Anniversary Day Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement Wellington Anniversary Day National Bubble Wrap Day Dundee Day Community Manager Appreciation Day International Day of Clean Energy Angela Davis’s Birthday Annie Rose’s Birthday Eddie Van Halen’s Birthday Ellen DeGeneres’s Birthday Gekyume Onfroy’s Birthday Kirk Franklin’s Birthday Paige Lorenze’s Birthday Paul Newman’s Birthday Sasha Banks’s Birthday Teddy Ruks’s Birthday Wayne Gretzky’s Birthday Douglas MacArthur Diane Lane ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mon Jan 26th, 2026 - Fri Jan 30th, 2026 Tax Identity Theft Week Farmhouse Breakfast Week Family Mediation Week Mon Jan 26th, 2026 - Sun Feb 1st, 2026 Suits and Sneakers for Cancer Week Mon Jan 26th, 2026 - Wed Feb 4th, 2026 Saint Paul Winter Carnival Fun Observances Spouse's Day January 26 is Spouse's Day, a day to celebrate your spouse, better half, or significant other. The unofficial holiday encourages people to let their spouses know how much they are loved, respected, and appreciated. Not Only Marriage While the term spouse is traditionally used to refer to individual bound by law through marriage, these days it can be used to refer to people who may be in a common-law marriage, domestic partnership, or civil union. The holiday is also known as National Spouse's Day in the United States. How to Celebrate? While gifts are always nice, the best and the most meaningful gift is the gift of time. Spend some quality time with your partner. Maybe take the day off and surprise them with a picnic. Do their errands and chores for them. Make their favorite foods and treats. Whatever you do, make sure you tell them that you appreciate everything they do for you. Did You Know… …that Denmark was the first country in modern times to recognize same-sex marriage in 1989? *** When my local barista handed me my change, one coin stood out. “Look at that. You rarely get one of these old wheat pennies nowadays,” I said, tapping the sheaf of-wheat design. I handed her the penny. Turning it over and over in her hand, she said, “You know, I always thought they were made of copper.” *** My dad and uncles were all in the Army during wartime, but only two of the three served overseas. One day, at an event honoring veterans, a young man asked where they had been stationed. “I served in Japan,” said Uncle Sid. “I served in Korea,” said Uncle Jerry. “Baltimore,” said Dad. “Keeping it safe for democracy.” *** During a combat medical training class, the topic was blast injuries. At one point, our very intimidating instructor pointed at me and said, “There’s been a jeep explosion. What would you do if you came upon an injured man with a steering wheel embedded in his chest?” Nervous and unsure, I blurted out, “Drive him to the hospital?” For some reason, the rest of the room found this hilarious. *** Q: How long does it take to know if a pair of underwear fits you well? A: Just a brief moment! *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Everyone else, except for the above, thinks Adwaita was a he not a she. Adwaita - Wikipedia *** *** Knocking on wood - Wikipedia *** *** *** *** 30 years ago, Prophet Daniel Abodunrin Was Killed By Lions When He Tried To Recreate The Story Of Daniel In The Bible - AmazingTimesGH *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn
  7. Last week I did what I said I would never do again, put my coffee cup near my keyboard. Yup, I spilled it all over my keyboard. Shortly after, it went crazy and now I had no keyboard. I have several older ones (including the one I spilled coffee on last year). Long story short, I had a mouse, but no keyboard. Talk about feeling useless. The next day, my neighbor gave me lift to a Best Buy and I bought one (and a spare). After I installed it, I was checking my setting pages, and came across a section entitled ' Touch Keyboard ' . I am still using Windows 10. It seems that if you turn this on, You get a mini keyboard at the bottom of your page, and you can use your mouse to type on it. So in a pinch you can use it until you get a real keyboard replacement. This is such a smart thing, that I am sure Windows 11, must have it also. I wanted to pass this on to all of you, in case something similar happens to you. This is my good deed of the day, pass it on and take care. My best
  8. Just the facts: STRUCTURE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster STRUCTURE Synonyms: 115 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
  9. January 25th 2026 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Betico Day (Aruba) Burns Night (Scotland) Christian feast day: Dydd Santes Dwynwen (Wales) Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul (Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran churches, which concludes the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity) Gregory the Theologian (Eastern (Byzantine) Catholic Church) The last day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Christian ecumenism) January 25 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) National Nutrition Day (Indonesia) National Police Day (Egypt) National Voters' Day (India) Revolution Day 2011 (Egypt) Tatiana Day or Russian Students Day (Russia, Eastern Orthodox) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) A Room Of One’s Own Day Burns Supper Fluoride Day National Bible Sunday National Fish Taco Day National Florida Day National Irish Coffee Day National IV Nurse Day Observe the Weather Day World Leprosy Day Alicia Keys’s Birthday Calum Hood’s Birthday Laura Johnston’s Birthday Lil Mosey’s Birthday Robert Burns’s Birthday Wong Yuk-hei’s Birthday ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sun Jan 25th, 2026 - Sat Feb 31st, 2026 Catholic Schools Week Children’s Week Kiss a Shark Week National College Financial Prep Week National School Choice Week Sun Jan 25th, 2026 - Sun Feb 1st, 2026 National Meat Week Fun Observances Opposite Day Ever wanted to be a rebel? Now is your chance. Don’t celebrate Opposite Day on January 25 by doing everything the wrong way. While it is unclear who created this Opposite Day and for what purposes, rumor has it that the unofficial holiday comes from a playground game, where children trick each other by asking silly questions and then reversing the answers. The holiday is also sometimes called National Opposite Day in the United States. How Not to Celebrate? Celebrating Opposite Day is not an easy task - you'll just have to do the opposite of everything you do on any normal day. If you can, why not start the day by ending it – go to bed in the morning and work at night? Have dinner for breakfast and breakfast for dinner. Say right when you mean left and vice versa. Let your family, friends and colleagues know that you are celebrating Opposite Day. Otherwise, it could get very confusing for everyone around you. Did You Know… …about the Opposite Day Paradox? Technically, Opposite Day cannot exist. If you say today is Opposite Day, then because of the rules of the game, today would be the opposite of what you just said i.e. not opposite day or a normal day. Instead, if you said it was a normal day, then it would be a normal day. *** A judge tells the defendant, “You’re charged with attacking your boss with a hammer.” “You jerk!” yells a voice from 
the back of the courtroom. “You’re also charged with attacking a bartender with a hammer,” 
says the judge. “Jerrrrkkkk!” bellows the same man. “Sir,” says the judge, “one more outburst, and I’ll charge you with contempt.” “I’m sorry, Your Honor,” says the man. “But I’ve been this jerk’s neighbor for ten years, and every time I asked to borrow a hammer, he said he didn’t have one.” *** New and Improved Names for Boring Everyday Things • Couch = People Shelf • Books = Manual Films • Bracelets = Clockless Watches • Air Horn = Spray Scream • Bottled Water = Snowman Blood • Feather = Bird Leaf *** Mike walked into a post office just before Valentine's day, he couldn't help noticing a middle-aged, balding man standing in a corner sticking "Love" stamps on bright pink envelopes with hearts all over them. Then the man got out a bottle of Channel perfume from his pocket and started spraying scent over the envelopes. By now Mike's curiosity had got the better of him, and asked the man why he was sending all those cards. The man replied, "I'm sending out 500 Valentine cards signed, 'Guess who?'" "But why?" asked Mike. "I'm a divorce lawyer," the man replied. *** "You came home early from your date," John observed to his roommate. "What happened?" "Well," said the flatmate, "after dinner she invited me up to her flat. We had a couple of drinks and she put on some soft music. Then she reached over and turned out the lights." "So, what next?" asked John, eyebrows raised. "I can take a hint," said his flatmate. "I came home." *** A husband and wife were dining at a 5-star restaurant. When their food arrived, the husband said: "Our food has arrived! Let's eat!" His wife reminded him: "Honey, you always say your prayers at home before your dinner!" Her husband replied: "That's at home, my dear. Here the chef knows how to cook..." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn
  10. Just the facts: EMPHASIS Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster EMPHASIS Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus Examples of 'EMPHASIS' in a Sentence | Merriam-Webster EMPHASIZE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster EMPHASISE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
  11. January 24th 2026 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Babylas of Antioch Exuperantius of Cingoli Felician of Foligno Francis de Sales Blessed Marie Poussepin Pratulin Martyrs (Greek Catholic Church) January 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of the Unification of the Romanian Principalities (Romania) Feast of Our Lady of Peace (Roman Catholic Church), and its related observances: Feria de Alasitas (La Paz) Uttar Pradesh Day (Uttar Pradesh, India) National Girl Child Day (India) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) "Just Do It" Day Beer Can Appreciation Day Belly Laugh Day Change a Pet’s Life Day International Day of Education International Mobile Phone Recycling Day Local Quilt Shop Day National Lobster Thermidor Day National Peanut Butter Day Paul Pitcher Day Talk Like a Grizzled Prospector Day Unification Day Briston Maroney’s Birthday Daveed Diggs’s Birthday James Kennedy’s Birthday Johnny Orlando’s Birthday Kenya Moore’s Birthday Neil Diamond’s Birthday Regé-Jean Page’s Birthday Sharon Tate John Belushi ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sat Jan 24th, 2026 - Wed Jan 28th, 2026 Data Privacy Week Sat Jan 24th, 2026 - Thu Jan 29th, 2026 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Week Sat Jan 24th, 2026 - Sun Mar 1st, 2026 Artes Mundi Sat Jan 24th, 2026 - Tue Mar 3rd, 2026 Snow Sculpting Week Fun Observances (2) Compliment Day Compliments - they are free, easy to give and receive, they make people happy and build trust. So give someone a compliment someone on January 24, Compliment Day. This unofficial day was started in 1998 by Debby Hoffman and Kathy Chamberlin as a way “to tell the people in our lives how much we appreciate them.” Sincerity is the Key In the hustle bustle of our daily lives, it is easy to start taking our loved ones and people around us for granted. Compliment Day attempts to change that. It encourages people to make a conscious attempt to praise and acknowledge the little (and big) things others do for them. Complimenting does not have to be intimidating or hard. For it to be sincere and sound heartfelt, it must come from the heart. To give a genuine compliment, experts suggest finding something that you admire about the person you want to compliment. It could be about a job well done, a skill that they have, a dress they have worn or something they have done recently to impress you. What Goes Around, Comes Around Compliments not only help spread joy, they also help create bonds. Research has shown that people tend to gravitate towards other positive people in both personal and professional settings. Appreciating others also creates an atmosphere of mutual admiration - praise someone genuinely once or twice, and you are bound to get a compliment or two back. The bottom line is this: giving compliments not only makes the other person happy, it can also make you happy, boost your self-esteem and help you make friends. World Compliment Day A similar holiday called World Compliment Day is celebrated every year on March 1. This holiday is also sometimes called International Compliments Day. How to Celebrate? While we believe that every day of the year should be Compliment Day, be extra complimentary on January 24. Don’t be stingy about giving compliments. You don’t lose anything by appreciating a friend, co-worker or a family member. Did You Know… … that the word compliment is derived from the Latin, complere, which means to fill up? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Macintosh Computer Day January 24 is Macintosh Computer Day. On this day in 1984, the very first Macintosh computer, the precursor of today’s Apple computers or “Macs” as they are lovingly called, was introduced to the consumer market. Super Bowl Commercial The computer was first introduced to the world at the Super Bowl commercial directed by Ridley Scott. The commercial referred to George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-four, a dystopian novel published in 1949. When introduced, the computer came with only two programs - MacWrite and MacPaint. How to Celebrate? If you are in the market for a new computer, why not use this day to consider getting a Mac? Learn more about the history and science behind the Macintosh computers. Read more about the life and times and business philosophies of Apple founder Steve Jobs. Did You Know… ...that the Macintosh was named after the McIntosh, an apple variety? The name was changed to Macintosh because McIntosh was the name of another company. *** On his way to perform at a graveside service, the bagpiper gets lost. After many wrong turns, he finally arrives, but the minister and mourners have already gone. Only the grave diggers remain, and they're eating lunch. Not knowing what else to do, the bagpiper begins to play. The workers put down their lunches and weep as the man plays "Amazing Grace." When he finishes, he packs up his bagpipes and heads for his car. As he opens the door, he hears one of the workers say, "I've never seen anything like that before, and I've been putting in septic tanks for 20 years." *** Tourists say some odd things when they charter my boat in Key West. "How many sunset sails do you have at night?" asked one. Another wondered, "Does the water go around the island?" But the most interesting came when I asked a customer why she'd brought along a dozen empty jars. She answered, "I want to take home a sample of each color of water that we'll be going in." *** While I was planning a trip to Nova Scotia, a Titanic-related tour caught my eye. The description: "Learn of the Titanic tragedy along with a guided visit to the Fairview Lawn Cemetery, where 121 victims are still buried on a deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach." *** Conversation between a pharmacist and a female customer: Woman: "I need to buy some arsenic." Pharmacist:" Why do you need arsenic?" Woman: "I need arsenic because I want to kill my husband." Pharmacist: "WHAT?" Woman: "You heard me! I want to kill my husband!" Pharmacist: "Why on earth would you want to do that?" Woman: "Because he's having an affair with YOUR wife!!!" Pharmacist: "Well why didn't you tell me you had a prescription?" *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn
  12. Just the facts: FOCUS Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster FOCUS Synonyms: 82 Similar Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
  13. January 23rd 2026 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Bounty Day (Pitcairn Islands) Christian feast day: Abakuh Marianne of Molokai Emerentiana Espousals of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ildefonsus of Toledo Phillips Brooks (Episcopal Church (USA)) January 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Jayanti (Orissa, Tripura, and West Bengal, India) World Freedom Day (Taiwan and South Korea) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Basant Panchami Big Garden Birdwatch First Philippine Republic Day International Sticky Toffee Pudding Day Measure Your Feet Day National Activity Professionals Day National King Day National Pedro Day National Pie Day National Report Pharmaceutical Fraud Day National Rhubarb Pie Day Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day Thorrablot Maternal Health Awareness Day Alex Silva’s Birthday Andrea’s Birthday Draya Michele’s Birthday Mariska Hargitay’s Birthday Mr Potato’s Birthday Rutger Hauer’s Birthday Tiffani Thiessen’s Birthday XXXtentacion’s Birthday ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fri Jan 23rd, 2026 - Sun Jan 25th, 2026 Surva Mummers Festival Fri Jan 23rd, 2026 - Thu Jan 29th, 2026 National CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) Week Fun Observances Handwriting Day January 23 is Handwriting Day, a day to get your hands on a pen or pencil and paper and practice and revive the elegant art of handwriting. The unofficial holiday is sponsored by the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association and commemorates the birth anniversary of John Hancock, the first person to sign the American Declaration of Independence. As Unique as the Person Handwriting is the act of writing by hand using an instrument such as a pen, pencil or brush. It is thought that a person's handwriting is as unique as his or her fingerprint - no two people have the same writing style or handwriting. Because of this, handwriting is often used by many forensic experts and historians to test the authenticity of documents. How to Celebrate? Pick up a pen and write a note to a friend and family member. Resolve not to use the computer to write anything – carry a notepad and a pen with you wherever you go and use them whenever you need to write anything. Use post-its to remind yourself of tasks instead of online task reminders. Did You Know… …that you can draw a 35-mile long line with a single pencil? *** 10 Funny Jokes About New Year’s Resolutions Spending more time with family: Families are complicated enough, but things became even more confusing after my father decided to get married to my brother's mother-in-law. "Now I can't make up my mind whether he's my dad or my father-in- law," says my brother, "or if my mother-in-law is now my stepmother, or whether my child is my daughter or my niece." Getting in shape: A friend of mine had resisted efforts to get him to run with our jogging group until his doctor told him he had to exercise. Soon thereafter, he reluctantly joined us for our 5:30 a.m. jogs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. After a month of running, we decided that my friend might be hooked, especially when he said he had discovered what "runner's euphoria" was. "Runner's euphoria," he explained, "is what I feel at 5:30 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays." Starting that diet: My friend Kimberly announced that she had started a diet to lose some pounds she had put on recently. "Good!" I exclaimed. "I'm ready to start a diet too. We can be dieting buddies and help each other out. When I feel the urge to drive out and get a burger and fries, I'll call you first." "Great!" she replied. "I'll ride with you." Quitting smoking: I discussed peer pressure and cigarettes with my 12-year-old daughter. Having struggled for years to quit, I described how I had started smoking to "be cool." As I outlined the arguments kids might make to tempt her to try it, she stopped me mid-lecture, saying, "Hey, I'll just tell them my mom smokes. How cool can it be?" Eating healthier:The teacher in our Bible class asked a woman to read from the Book of Numbers about the Israelites wandering in the desert. "The Lord heard you when you wailed, 'If only we had meat to eat!' " she began. "Now the Lord will give you meat. You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, or ten or twenty days, but for a month—until you loathe it." When the woman finished, she paused, looked up, and said, "Hey, isn't that the Atkins diet?" Reducing your debt: Neighbors of ours had a terrible disagreement over a patio they wanted for their backyard. The wife had rather grand ideas, while the husband wanted costs kept to a minimum. The wife won out, and the construction bill climbed higher and higher. I dropped by one day, when the patio was near completion, and was surprised to find the husband smiling from ear to ear as the workmen smoothed over the surface. I remarked how nice it was to see a grin replace the frown he had been wearing lately. “You see where they’re smoothing that cement?” he replied. “I just threw my wife’s credit cards in there.” -- R. Horn Learning new things: I was trying to decide what to do for a talent show I planned to enter. Trusting my mother to help me out, I asked, "For the show, what do you think I should do, sing or put on a comedy act?" Glancing up from her paper, she said dryly, "What's the difference?" Better teeth care: Just because one owns a business doesn't mean it has to be all business. This sign in a dentist's office proves that point: "Be True to Your Teeth, or They Will Be False to You." Becoming more organized: My friend’s husband is always telling her that housekeeping would be a snap if only she would organize her time better. Recently he had a chance to put his theory into practice while his wife was away. When I popped in one evening to see how he was managing, he crowed, "I made a cake, frosted it, washed the kitchen windows, cleaned all the cupboards, scrubbed the kitchen floor, walls and ceiling and even had a bath." I was about to concede that perhaps he was a better manager than his wife, when he added sheepishly, "When I was making the chocolate frosting, I forgot to turn off the mixer before taking the beaters out of the bowl, so I had to do all the rest." Drinking less: I was waiting tables in a noisy lobster restaurant in Maine when a vacationing Southerner stumped me with a drink order. I approached the bartender. "Have you ever heard of a drink called 'Seven Young Blondes'?" I asked. He admitted he'd never heard of it, and grabbed a drink guidebook to look it up. Unable to find the recipe, he then asked me to go back and tell the patron that he'd be happy to make the drink if he could list the ingredients for him. "Sir," I asked the customer, "can you tell me what's in that drink?" He looked at me like I was crazy. "It's wine," he said, pronouncing his words carefully, "Sauvignon blanc." *** A musician friend is always upbeat. But when she developed ringing in one ear, I was concerned it might overwhelm even her. When I asked whether her condition was especially annoying to a musician, she shook her head. “Not really,” she said cheerfully. “The ringing sound is in the key of B flat, so I use it to tune my cello half a tone lower.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn
  14. Just the facts: CONTEXT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster CONTEXT Synonyms: 26 Similar Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus IN CONTEXT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
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