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sandrewn

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  1. sandrewn

    MDBCs 12 Apr 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 619
    April 12th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Children's Day (Bolivia) Christian feast day: Adoniram Judson (Episcopal Church) Alferius Blessed Angelo Carletti di Chivasso Erkembode Pope Julius I Teresa of the Andes Zeno of Verona April 12 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Commemoration of first human in space by Yuri Gagarin: Cosmonautics Day (Russia) International Day of Human Space Flight Yuri's Night (International observance) Halifax Day (North Carolina) National Redemption Day (Liberia)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    D.E.A.R. Day
    Deskfast Day
    Hamster Day
    International Day for Street Children
    International Day of Pink
    Martyrdom of Imam Ali
    National Big Wind Day
    National Dolores Day
    National For Twelves Day
    National Gavin Day
    National Licorice Day
    National Mac Day
    National Maya Day
    National Only Child Day
    National Silvia Day
    Teak Awareness Day
    Walk on Your Wild Side Day
    Wear a Star Day
     
    True Thompson’s Birthday
    Brendon Urie’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
    Grilled Cheese Day April 12 is Grilled Cheese Day, a day to celebrate this hearty bread and cheese dish and to make every meal out of it.

    A grilled cheese consists of grilling or toasting a slice of cheese between two slices of bread.
    Comfort Meal
    Enjoyed today by people around the world as an after school or as a comfort meal, the modern version of a grilled cheese is believed to have originated in the United States during the 1920s when sliced bread and cheese became easily available.
    The cheese usually used in grilled cheese is American cheese which is a processed cheese product that has a very low melting point. Hot tomato soup, potato chips, and pickles are common accompaniments of a grilled cheese sandwich.
    Cheese Toastie
    The British version of a grilled cheese is called a cheese toastie. The cheese of choice for a toastie is cheddar cheese.
    The unofficial holiday of unknown origins is also sometimes known as National Grilled Cheese Day.
    How to Celebrate?
    Make grilled cheese for all your meals. Have an egg and bacon grilled cheese for breakfast, a tomato and mozzarella grilled cheese for lunch, and a traditional grilled cheese for dinner. Who says grilled cheese has to be savory? Make a dessert grilled cheese with fruit and brie or cream cheese and chocolate spread. Gourmet up your grilled cheese by adding gourmet ingredients to it. What about adding some bacon into the mix or some arugula and roasted beets for the vegetarians? Substitute tomato soup with sweet potato soup or pumpkin soup. Did You Know…
    …that mozzarella is the most consumed cheese in the world?
     
     
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    As I was nursing my baby, my cousin's six-year-old daughter, Krissy, came into the room. Never having seen anyone breast- feed before, she was intrigued and full of all kinds of questions about what I was doing.

    After mulling over my answers, she remarked, "My mom has some of those, but I don't think she knows how to use them."
     
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    Thinking his son would enjoy seeing the reenactment of a Civil War battle, my niece's husband took the boy, Will, to the event. But the poor child was terrified by the booming cannons. During a lull, Will's dad finally got him calmed down.

    That's when the Confederate general hollered, "Fire at Will!"
     
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    While editing announcements for a newspaper, I came across an item promoting a camp for children with asthma.
    Aside from all the wonderful activities the kids could enjoy, such as canoeing, swimming, crafts and more, it promised that its lakefront property offered something the kids probably did not expect:
    "breathtaking views."
     
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    I worked at a boarding kennel where people leave their dogs and cats while on vacation. One morning I had taken a cat out of his cage, and after playing with him and replenishing his food and water, I put him back in.
    A few minutes later, I was surprised to see the feline at my feet, since the cage doors lock automatically when they’re shut.
    I couldn’t figure out how the cat escaped, until I bent down to pick him up and spied his nametag: “Houdini.”
     
     
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    When did Constantinople become Istanbul? | Live Science
     
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    sandrewn
  2. sandrewn

    MDBCs 11 Apr 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 618
    April 11th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Antipas of Pergamum (Greek Orthodox Church) Barsanuphius Gemma Galgani Godeberta Guthlac of Crowland George Selwyn (Anglicanism) Stanislaus of Szczepanów April 11 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Juan Santamaría Day, anniversary of his death in the Second Battle of Rivas. (Costa Rica) International Louie Louie Day World Parkinson's Day  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Pet Day
    Dog Therapy Appreciation Day
    Global Day to End Child Sexual Abuse
    National Cheese Fondue Day
    National Clean Up Your Pantry Day
    National Eight Track Tape Day
    National James Day
    National Marketing Operations Appreciation Day
    National Poutine Day
    National Ranch Water Day
    Southland Anniversary Day
    National Equal Pay Day
     
    Sebastian Moy’s Birthday
    Summer Walker’s Birthday
    Jahvahn Greek’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances ( 3 )
     Submarine Day
    March 11 is Submarine Day. The unofficial holiday celebrates the technological advances that make the use of the watercraft possible.

    It is thought that the unofficial holiday commemorates the date in 1898 when Irish engineer John Philip Holland showed his submarine design to the U.S. Navy.
    Modern Submarine
    Called the Holland Type VI submarine, his prototype was the first modern submarine design to work successfully underwater. His submarines became the first vessels to be bought by the United States Navy and the British Royal Navy.
    A similar holiday is celebrated on April 17 in the US as a way to honor the anniversary of the establishment of the U.S. Submarine Force in 1900.
    Military Purposes
    Submarines have primarily been used for offensive military purposes throughout the 20th century. During World War I and World War II, they were used to sink enemy ships. In the present day, while submarines are still used by the military, they are increasingly being put to use for civilian benefits. Their ability to go deep underwater have made it possible for scientists to research marine life and sea beds. They are also sometimes used for underwater tourism.
    Most present-day military submarines run using nuclear power, though, in many parts of the world, diesel-electric submarines are also in common use.
    Submarine the Sandwich
    In many parts of the United States, a submarine is a type of sandwich. Usually made with a long roll of bread and filled with meats, vegetables, and spreads, this popular lunch dish is also called by other names like hero, hoagie, grinder, and sub. It is thought that the sandwich was named submarine because it resembles the shape of the underwater vessel.
    How to Celebrate?
    Learn more about the art and science of submarines. Celebrate the day by consuming as many sub sandwiches as you can. Watch movies that feature submarines. Did You Know...
    ...that the first known submarine was created in 1620 by Cornelius Drebbel?
    ~~~~~~~
    Be Kind to Lawyers Day
    Honor the lawyer in your life on Be Kind to Lawyers Day, celebrated annually on the second Tuesday of April.

    Lawyers, they may get a bad rap, but they are essential to the workings of society and the justice system.
    Before Tax Day
    The unofficial holiday was created by Steve Hughes, an American communication expert as National Be Kind To Lawyers Day in 2008. He chose to celebrate the holiday on the second Tuesday of April because it falls between April Fool’s Day and Tax Day in the United States.
    Like Your Lawyer
    Be Kind to Lawyers Day, also known as International Be Kind to Lawyers Day, encourages people to be kind to all those who practice law and make sure that the legal system in a country works smoothly.
    Even though the legal profession is one of the oldest professions in the history of humankind, lawyers have been a subject of jokes and have been seen as a necessary evil by the public throughout history.
    Dispels the Myth
    The reason for this hatred towards lawyers stems from a general perception that all lawyers charge more than they should from their clients, and are willing to abuse the legal system in order to get the judgment in their client's favor.
    Be Kind to Lawyers Day attempts to dispel this myth and raises awareness about the constructive and important role lawyers lay in ensuring that a society functions smoothly.
    How to Celebrate?
    Send a thank you note to the lawyer in your life. It always helps to have a lawyer on your side! Take your lawyer out for lunch and show them your appreciation for keeping you out of trouble! Watch TV shows or movies with protagonists who are lawyers. Use legal jargon during conversations with family, friends, and colleagues. Did You Know…
    …that a law in ancient Athens made it illegal for lawyers to charge fees for their services?
    ~~~~~~~
     Barbershop Quartet Day
    April 11 is Barbershop Quartet Day, a day that celebrates barbershop music, a style of harmony singing without any accompanying music.

    The unofficial holiday commemorates the founding of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America in 1938.
    Waiting Songs
    As the name suggests, barbershop music originated in 19th-century American barbershops, a place where men, usually African-American, came to socialize. While waiting for their turn with the barber, these men sang, harmonized improvised songs and created a genre of music that is now known as barbershop music.
    Straw Hats
    A barbershop quartet is a group of 4 men, each with their own unique voices - second tenor, first tenor, bass, and baritone - singing songs in the barbershop style.
    Barbershop quartets have a signature dressing style that includes bright striped jackets, straw hats, and big mustaches.
    How to Celebrate?
    Celebrate the day by getting acquainted with Barbershop music and its history. Attend a barbershop quartet show and enjoy their music. Did You Know…
    …that barbershop music is a type of acapella? Acapella is a style of singing without any accompanying instrumental music. The word comes from the Italian word for according to the church.
     
     
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    A passing septic service truck declared "19,500 lbs. of very gross weight."
     
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    A couple invited some people to dinner. At the table, the wife turned to their six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?"

    "I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied.

    "Just say what you hear Mommy say," the wife answered.

    The daughter bowed her head and said, "Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"
     
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    Although desperate to find work, I passed on a job I found on an employment website. It was for a wastewater plant operator.
    Among the job requirements: "Must be able to swim."
     
    ***
     
    When we finished a personality assessment at work, I asked my friend Dan if he would share the results with his wife.
    "That would require me to go home and say, 'Hi, honey. I just paid someone $400 to tell me what's wrong with me,' " he said.
    "And based on that, considering we've been married 23 years, she'd hand me a bill for $798,000."
     
    ***
     
    A colleague was planning a trip to my business office and asked if I could find him a hotel with exercise facilities. I called several hotels, with no luck.

    Finally I thought I had found one. I asked the receptionist if the hotel had a weight room.

    "No," she replied, "but we have a lobby and you can wait there."
     
     
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    Peanut gallery Idiom Definition
     
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    Great eared nightjar - Wikipedia
     
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    (thought I'd end tonight with a chuckle)
     
    sandrewn
  3. sandrewn

    MDBCs 10 Apr 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 617
    April 10th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Fulbert of Chartres James, Azadanus and Abdicius Mikael Agricola (Lutheran) Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (Episcopal Church) William of Ockham (Anglicanism) William Law (Anglicanism) April 10 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of the Builder (Azerbaijan) Feast of the Third Day of the Writing of the Book of the Law (Thelema) Siblings Day (International observance)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Hug Your Dog Day
    Birth anniversary of Manlilikha ng Bayan Masino Intaray
    Dyngus Day
    Easter Monday
    Global Work From Home Day
    Golfer’s Day
    International Safety Pin Day
    National Calvin Day
    National Cinnamon Crescent Day
    National Encourage a Young Writer Day
    National Farm Animals Day
    National Nana Day
    National Report IRS Tax Fraud Day
    National Tamara Day
    National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day
    Salvation Army Founder's Day
    White House Easter Egg Roll
    World Homeopathy Day
     
    Ynw Bslime’s Birthday
     
     
     
    Sofia Carson’s Birthday
    Shay Mitchell’s Birthday
    Emily Miller’s Birthday
    Custis Blue’s Birthday
    Charlie Hunnam’s Birthday
     
     
    Fun Observances
     Siblings Day
    Honor your sibling on Siblings Day, an unofficial holiday celebrated annually on April 10.

    The day aims to celebrate the very important but often under-appreciated special relationship and bond of love, friendship, and respect shared between siblings.
    Made in New York
    All of us who have been lucky enough to have siblings know that sometimes they can be annoying and a pain to be around, but this should not stop you from celebrating what will possibly be the longest relationship in your life.
    The unofficial day was created by New Yorker Claudia Evart in memory of her brother and sister, whom she lost early in her life.
    Since 1998, US President Bill Clinton and governors of 39 states in the U.S. have officially recognized Siblings Day as an observance.
    The holiday is also known as National Siblings Day in the United States.
    How to Celebrate?
    Here are some ways you can celebrate this special day:
    Even though it is a predominantly American holiday, nothing should stop you from celebrating it wherever you are. Do something special to celebrate your siblings - throw a party for them, cook them their favorite dish, take them out to do their favorite activity, stay at home and go through old family photos and videos, and reminisce about the good times you had growing up together. Spend some time with your siblings. If you live away from them, call them and talk to them. What about paying them a surprise visit? If you are unable to call or visit them, what about sending them a lovely card that tells them how much you miss them and care for them? Tell them how much you love them and appreciate them and all they do for you. If your siblings are no longer with you, what about doing something special in their memory? Perhaps donating to their favorite charity? And don't forget your step- and half-siblings! So what if you only share one parent or don't have a genetic connection to them - sometimes connections of the heart are all you need to become brothers and sisters. Did You Know...
    ...that siblings who have the same parents share 50% of their DNA, while half-siblings – siblings who have one common parent – possess about 25% similar genetic material?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    John went to visit his old grandfather in a secluded area of Georgia. After chatting all night John's grandfather made a breakfast of bacon, eggs and toast. However, John noticed a film on his plate, and questioned his grandfather, "Are these plates clean?"

    His grandfather replied, "They're as clean as cold water can get them. Just finish your meal!"
    For lunch John worried that the plates had dried egg and asked, "Are you sure these plates are clean?"
    The old man said, "I told you those dishes are as clean as cold water can get them. Now I don't want to hear any more about it!"
    Later that afternoon, as John was leaving, his grandfather's dog started to growl, not letting him pass. John yelled, "Grandfather, your dog won't let me get to my car."
    The old man shouted, "Coldwater, go lie down!"
     
    ***
     
    A propane supply store isn't shy about revealing where its heart lies:
    "Tank heaven for little grills."
     
    ***
     
    What does a producer do?
    The screenwriter, obviously, writes the screenplay.
    The actors, of course, act in that screenplay.
    And the director, without question, directs the whole thing.
    But what does the producer do?
    I will attempt to explain.
    A film producer is the guy who, when a writer tells him about a good idea he's got for a screenplay, says, "That was done in 1938 by William Wyler. It costarred Fredric March and Loretta Young, with Claude Rains playing the black hat. But you know what? I think we could update it, if instead of making the leading lady a nun, we have her working in a casino in Nevada. We put George Clooney in the Fredric March role, and we make him an undercover agent for the CIA who has tracked a Russian agent to Las Vegas. Angelina Jolie would be great for the girl.
    [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"]http://media.rd.com/rd/images/rdc/mag0811/quirks-film-producer-ch.jpg Matty Simmons is the producer of National Lampoon's Animal House and the Vacation movies.[/caption] "They meet and fall in love, but he discovers that she's pregnant by the Russian agent. George has been licensed to kill this guy, who, incidentally, will be played by Jack Black, but Angelina begs George not to kill the father of her unborn child. In a tearstained scene at the Las Vegas airport, Angelina says goodbye to George and walks to the plane to join Jack Black for the trip back to Moscow. Our big ballad here. Maybe we get Elton John.
    "George stops at the airport and pulls out a quarter-a quarter she gave him. He drops it in a slot machine. The place goes nuts-bells ringing and all that stuff. George has hit the $1 million jackpot! He collects his money in a single large suitcase. It's all in ones to make it more visual-this is a visual medium.
    "He goes back to his hotel. He's still sick about losing Angelina. He takes the $1 million down to the hotel casino and puts the whole thing on No. 27, which was their number. We see the ball rolling around and around and around-endlessly, while the theme music, sung by Celine Dion, soars until every butt in every seat is up in the air. The ball drops into No. 29, then hiccups slightly and pops into 28, then, as Celine reaches a pitch so high that every dog within a mile of any movie house in America is howling with pain, the ball goes blip-and drops into 27."
     
    ***
     
    One evening my husband's golfing buddy drove his secretary home after she had imbibed a little too much at an office reception. Although this was an innocent gesture, he decided not to mention it to his wife, who tended to get jealous easily.

    Later that night my husband's friend and his wife were driving to a restaurant. Suddenly he looked down and spotted a high-heel shoe half hidden under the passenger seat. Not wanting to be conspicuous, he waited until his wife was looking out her window before he scooped up the shoe and tossed it out of the car. With a sigh of relief, he pulled into the restaurant parking lot. That's when he noticed his wife squirming around in her seat.

    "Honey," she asked, "have you seen my other shoe?"
     
     
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    sandrewn
  4. sandrewn

    MDBCs 09 Apr 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 616
    April 9th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Anglicanism, Lutheranism) Gaucherius Materiana Waltrude April 9 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Anniversary of the German Invasion of Denmark (Denmark) Baghdad Liberation Day (Iraqi Kurdistan) Constitution Day (Kosovo) Day of National Unity (Georgia) Day of the Finnish Language (Finland) Day of Valor or Araw ng Kagitingan (Philippines) Feast of the Second Day of the Writing of the Book of the Law (Thelema) Martyr's Day (Tunisia) National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day (United States) Remembrance for Haakon Sigurdsson (The Troth) Vimy Ridge Day (Canada)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    Easter
    National Winston Churchill Day
    Appomattox Day
    Edinburgh Science Festival
    International ASMR Day
    Jenkins Ear Day
    Jumbo Day
    National Baked Ham with Pineapple Day
    National Bodhi Day
    National Cherish an Antique Day
    National Chicken Little Awareness Day
    National Chinese Almond Cookie Day
    National Gin and Tonic Day
    National Mature Women’s Day
    National Name Yourself Day
    National Unicorn Day
    Orthodox Palm Sunday
     
    Tommyinnit’s Birthday
    Lil Nas X’s Birthday
    Hugh Hefner’s Birthday
    Lala lalaleluu’s Birthday
    Gerard Way’s Birthday
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Being a teenager and getting a tattoo seem to go hand and hand these days. I wasn't surprised when one of my daughter's friends showed me a delicate little Japanese symbol on her hip. "Please don't tell my parents," she begged.

    "I won't," I promised. "By the way, what does that stand for?"

    "Honesty," she said.
     
    ***
     
    As a high-school football coach, I'm aware that student athletes tend to focus too much on sports. A fellow coach, Bob, was talking about one such player, who called him at home one night. When his wife informed the kid that Bob wasn't home, he became frantic and said he had to speak to the coach right away.

    "Just calm down, and I'll have him call you as soon as he gets home," the coach's wife told him. "What's your number?"

    The flustered kid replied, "Three."
     
    ***
     
    As my husband, the county highway commissioner, was driving to the hospital for treatment of his painful leg, he decided to use the valet parking service so he wouldn't have to walk far. Staring at his official-looking vehicle, one of the valets asked my husband if he was driving a government car.
    "Why, yes," my husband replied, surprised by the question. "In fact it's an unmarked police car."

    "Wow!" the young man said, sliding behind the wheel. "This will be the first time I've been in the front seat."
     
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    In my job as an electronics salesman, I've seen the rise in popularity of sport-utility vehicles and minivans, which has created a market for rear-seat entertainment. Monitors that keep passengers occupied with movies and television have been selling like crazy.
    One day as I was showing a young couple how a monitor could play videos, DVDs, and even pick up local TV stations, the husband asked matter-of-factly, "Does it get cable?"
     
    ***
     
    I was lying on my couch, burning up with a fever, when my husband said I should go to bed. At three o'clock the next morning, I woke up soaked from head to toe. When my husband heard me stirring, he said that my fever must have broken.

    I decided to spend the rest of the night back on the couch so as not to disturb him any further. But then, three hours later, he appeared in the living room soaking wet.
    "Your fever didn't break," he said, still dripping. "The water bed did."
     
     
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    Prince Philip inspired a role in a DISNEY movie - and it might surprise you | Royal | News | Express.co.uk
     
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    sandrewn
  5. sandrewn

    MDBCs 08 Apr 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 615
    April 8th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Buddha's Birthday, also known as Hana Matsuri, "Flower Festival" (Japan) Christian feast day: Anne Ayres (Episcopal Church (USA)) Constantina Julie Billiart of Namur Perpetuus Walter of Pontoise William Augustus Muhlenberg (Episcopal Church (USA)) April 8 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Earliest day on which Fast and Prayer Day can fall, while April 14 is the latest; celebrated on the second Friday in April (Liberia) International Romani Day  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Empanada Day
    Baby Massage Day
    Black Saturday
    Day of Romas - 1
    International Romani Day - 2
    Draw a Bird Day
    Easter Saturday
    International Feng Shui Awareness Day
    International Kids Yoga Day
    National All is Ours Day
    National Catch and Release Day
    National Dog Fighting Awareness Day
    National Zoo Lovers Day
    Pygmy Hippo Day
    Step Into the Spotlight Day
    Trading Cards for Grown-ups Day
    World Pageant Day
     
    Skai Jackson’s Birthday
    Matty Healy’s Birthday
    Silas Timberlake’s Birthday
    Jonghyun’s Birthday
     
     
    ***
     
     
    On my way to a picnic, I stopped at a fast food place to order a quart of potato salad. "We don't sell it by the quart," the clerk snapped.

    "Okay, then give me two pints, please," I replied.

    I'm proud to say I held my tongue when she asked, "Do you want it in one container?"
     
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    I am a deputy sheriff assigned to courthouse security. As part of my job, I explain court procedures to visitors. One day I was showing a group of ninth-graders around. Court was in recess and only the clerk and a young man in custody wearing handcuffs were in the courtroom. "This is where the judge sits," I began, pointing to the bench. "The lawyers sit at these tables. The court clerk sits over there. The court recorder, or stenographer, sits over here. Near the judge is the witness stand and over there is where the jury sits. As you can see," I finished, "there are a lot of people involved in making this system work."

    At that point, the prisoner raised his cuffed hands and said, "Yeah, but I'm the one who makes it all happen."
     
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    My doctor friend moved his family to a small town in Montana. An Italian American raised in Philadelphia, he wanted his kids to enjoy clean the benefits of air and the outdoors. The locals were thrilled to have a doctor of their own, and were always inviting him and his family over for dinner.

    During one visit, one of his daughters told a rancher's daughter, "We're Italian."

    Somewhat confused, the little girl replied, "We're Ranch."
     
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    Four students walked in halfway through the American history test my father was giving at the local community college. "Sorry," they said, "we had a flat tire."

    An understanding man, Dad said that if they could all answer just one question correctly, he would give them each an "A" for the exam. The students agreed.
    So my father handed each one a piece of paper, placed them in four separate corners and said, "Write down which tire was flat."
     
     
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    ( A penny for your thoughts )
    I know you know, but just in case, it is a ' Pangolin '
    Pangolin - Wikipedia
     
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    sandrewn
  6. sandrewn

    MDBCs 07 Apr 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 614
    April 7th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast days: Aibert of Crespin Blessed Alexander Rawlins Blessed Edward Oldcorne and Blessed Ralph Ashley Blessed Notker the Stammerer Brynach Hegesippus Henry Walpole Hermann Joseph Jean-Baptiste de La Salle Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow (Eastern Orthodox Church, Episcopal Church (USA)) April 7 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Flag Day (Slovenia) Genocide Memorial Day (Rwanda), and its related observance: International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Rwanda Genocide (United Nations) Motherhood and Beauty Day (Armenia) National Beer Day (United States) Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume Day (Tanzania) Women's Day (Mozambique) Veterans' Day (Belgium) World Health Day (International observance)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    Good Friday
    Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide
    International Beaver Day
    International Snail Papers Day - 1
    International Snailpapers Day - 2
    Make the First Move Day
    Metric System Day
    National Coffee Cake Day
    National Girl Me Too Day
    National Nico Day
    National No Housework Day
    National Pet Health Insurance Day
    Poet in a Cupcake Day
    Public Television Day
    World Marbles Day
     
    Anne-Marie’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
    Walk to Work Day
    Years of medical research has shown that walking is one of the best ways to stay healthy and keep your body in shape. So, once a year, why not take the doctor’s advice and walk to work on Walk to Work Day?

    Walk to Work Day, an unofficial holiday, occurs on various dates in different countries. In the United States, the day is annually observed on the first Friday of April.
    This event is different from the American Heart Association’s National Walk to Work Day, which is held on the first Wednesday of April.
    How to Celebrate?
    Wear comfortable walking shoes and walk to work. If you are unable to walk to work, take public transport instead and then walk from the bus or train stop to your workplace. If you have to drive or take public transport to your workplace, why not walk to your lunch instead. Not in the United States, do not worry! You can still celebrate the holiday by yourself. Recruit colleagues and friends to walk with you to work. Did You Know...
    ...that an average adult person uses 200 muscles in his or her body to take a step forward?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    My wife's car horn began to beep in cold weather and would only stop when she disconnected it. So she disabled the horn and drove to the dealership, whose garage had its door shut to keep out the cold.
    Outside was a sign: "Honk horn for service."
     
    ***
     
    Searching in my library for two books by communications expert Deborah Tannen turned into an Abbott and Costello routine. "What's the first book?" the librarian asked.

    "That's Not What I Meant," I said.

    "Well, what did you mean?"

    "That's the title of the book," I explained.

    "Okay." She looked at me a little skeptically. "And the other book?"

    "You Just Don't Understand."

    "Excuse me?"

    I got both books. Eventually.
     
    ***
     
    During a recent meeting of our Optimist Club, we challenged one another to come up with an inspirational sentence using the word countenance. This was the winning entry:
    "I put a cheerful countenance on people every day." It was submitted by our local funeral director.
     
    ***
     
    Soon after we were married, my husband, Paul, stopped wearing his wedding band.

    "Why don't you ever wear your ring?" I asked.

    "It cuts off my circulation," Paul replied.

    "I know," I said. "It's supposed to."
     
     
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    Udder Bliss: One Cow, Three Cats and Some (Very) Fresh Milk
     
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    Yes, Yes, Yes, but what the heck was Boone's Farm??
     
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    Me
     
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    sandrewn
  7. sandrewn

    MDBCs 06 Apr 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 613
    April 6th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Chakri Day, commemorating the establishment of the Chakri dynasty. (Thailand) Christian feast day: Albrecht Dürer and Lucas Cranach (Lutheran Church). Brychan Eutychius of Constantinople (Eastern Orthodox Church) Marcellinus of Carthage Pope Sixtus I April 6 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) International Day of Sport for Development and Peace National Fisherman Day (Indonesia) New Beer's Eve (United States) Tartan Day (United States & Canada) Waltzing Matilda Day (Australia) International Asexuality Day  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    Maundy Thursday
    National Burrito Day
    National Siamese Cat Day
    National Student-Athlete Day - 1
    National Student Athlete Day - 2
    Army Day
    Bohring-Opitz Syndrome Day
    California Poppy Day
    Drowsy Driver Awareness Day
    Fresh Tomato Day
    Holy Thursday
    Hostess Twinkie Day
    Jump Over Things Day
    Näfelser Fahrt
    National Acai Bowl Day
    National Alcohol Screening Day
    National Caramel Popcorn Day
    National Carbonara Day
    National Employee Benefits Day
    National Food Faces Day
    National Gang Day
    National Jay Day
    National Library Day
    National Pajama Day
    National Parker Day
    National Robert Day
    National Taylor Day
    National Teflon Day
    President Ntaryamira Day
    Theravada New Year
    World Table Tennis Day
    International Fun at Work Day
    Tell a Lie Day
    Plan Your Epitaph Day
     
    Peyton List’s Birthday
    Mingyu’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
     Sorry Charlie Day
    April 6 is Sorry Charlie Day, a day to recognize that everyone gets rejected sometimes in his or her life. The name of the holiday comes from the phrase Sorry Charlie, popular in the United States.

    According to some, the phrase comes from a Starkist Tuna commercial in the 1970s.
    Tasty Tuna
    In the commercial, the main character, Charlie the Tuna, believes he has good taste and wants to be caught by the Tuna company. The company, however, rejects Charlie by attaching a note to a fish hook that says “Sorry Charlie.” The reason Charlie is rejected by the tuna company is because the company prefers to catch a tuna that tastes good, and not a tuna that has good taste.
    Rejection Phrase
    The phrase is now is commonly used as a response to someone who has experienced a rejection. It can be sometimes be seen as an uncaring response.
    How to Celebrate?
    Think back on all the rejections in your life – academic, professional and personal – and spend the day reflecting on what you learned from each of them. Treat yourself because you didn’t let any rejections let you down. Did You Know...
    ...that some schools of tuna fish swim alongside dolphins as a way to protect themselves from sharks and other predatory sea life?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    The college football player knew his way around the locker room better than he did the library. So when my husband's co-worker saw the gridiron star roaming the stacks looking confused, she asked how she could help. "I have to read a play by Shakespeare," he said.

    "Which one?" she asked.

    He scanned the shelves and answered, "William."
     
    ***
     
    Giving a sermon one Sunday, I heard two teenage girls in the back giggling and disturbing people. I interrupted my sermon and announced sternly, "There are two of you here who have not heard a word I've said." That quieted them down.

    When the service was over, I went to greet people at the front door. Three adults apologized for going to sleep in church, promising it would never happen again.
     
    ***
     
    We live less than a quarter-mile from the high school, but my son proudly drove there in a car he bought with his own money. A typical first car, it had lots of little problems and was sometimes slow to start.

    One morning I was surprised to see it still in front of the house, so after school I asked him about it. "I had to get to school early," he said, "so I just ran."
     
    ***
     
    During an attack of laryngitis I lost my voice completely for two days. To help me communicate with him, my husband devised a system of taps.

    One tap meant "Give me a kiss." Two taps meant "No." Three taps meant "Yes"—and 95 taps meant "Take out the garbage."
     
     
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    sandrewn
  8. sandrewn

    MDBCs 05 Apr 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 612
    April 5th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Albert of Montecorvino Derfel Gadarn Æthelburh of Kent Gerald of Sauve-Majeure Juliana of Liège Maria Crescentia Höss Blessed Mariano de la Mata Pandita Mary Ramabai (Episcopal Church (USA)) Ruadhán of Lorrha Vincent Ferrer April 5 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Cold Food Festival, held on April 4 if it is a leap year (China); and its related observances: Earliest day on which Sham el-Nessim can fall, while May 9 is the latest; celebrated on Monday after the Orthodox Easter (Egypt) Children's Day (Palestinian territories) First Contact Day (International observance) Sikmogil (South Korea) National Maritime Day is observed in India, in commemoration of the first voyage of SS Loyalty of the Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd. in 1919. International Day of Conscience  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Deep Dish Pizza Day
    Accelerate ACL Awareness Among Young Women Day
    Bell Bottoms Day
    Cheng Ming Festival
    Day of Hope - 1
    National Childhelp Day of Hope - 2
    Erev Pesach (Israel)
    Go For Broke Day
    Gold Star Spouses Day
    Holy Wednesday
    National Body Care Day
    National Caramel Day
    National Dandelion Day
    National Flash Drive Day
    National Nebraska Day
    National Raisin and Spice Bar Day
    National Self Care Day
    National SI 5 Star Phone Certification Day
    National Walking Day
    Passover
    Peeps Day
    Qingming Festival
    Hospital Admitting Clerks Day
     
    Pharrell Williams’s Birthday
    Lil Sasquatch’s Birthday
    Hunter Rowland’s Birthday
    Daniel Caesar’s Birthday
    Blayke Busby’s Birthday
    Bette Davis’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances ( 2 )
    Read a Road Map Day
    Read a Road Map Day is on April 5. It encourages people to go on an adventure the old-fashioned way – with a paper map!

    Also known as National Read a Road Map Day, the unofficial holiday is a throwback to what the kids today call the "old days" before GPSs.
    No GPS
    Roadmaps, or route maps, are navigational maps that usually show roads and landmarks in a specific area.
    In recent years, the rise of Global Positioning System (GPS) and mobile technology is making paper maps outdated.
    How to Celebrate?
    When was the last time you picked up a map and used it for directions? No, not a GPS or a map app, but an actual paper map? Don't remember? Here are some ways to celebrate Read a Road Map Day:
    Take a short road trip and use only paper maps to guide you. Bring along a navigator who does the map reading and directing for you. If you do not have a navigator, please make sure you only read the map when your car is at a complete stop. If you have never read a map, take some time to learn to read one. We reckon it will be a good skill to have in the unlikely event of a zombie apocalypse. Learn more about maps and how they are made. Did You Know...
    ...that the Turin Papyrus is thought to be the oldest recorded road map in the world? Historians believe that it was created around 1160 BCE.
    ~~~~~~~
     First Contact Day
    Fans of the sci-fi series Star Trek celebrate First Contact Day on April 5 to mark the day in 2063 when humans make their first contact with the Vulcans.

    The day is celebrated as a minor holiday in the Star Trek world and made its first appearance on the episode named Homestead in the Star Trek: Voyager series.
    TV Show
    Star Trek is an American television and film enterprise first created in 1966 by Gene Roddenberry. The first television series in the franchise debuted in 1966 and is now known as The Original Series. It followed the adventures of the crew of the starship USS Enterprise under the leadership of Captain James T Kirk.
    Humanoid Race
    The Enterprise is a 23rd-century spaceship of the United Federation of Planets, a federation of more than 150 governments from different planets. The Federation as it is popularly known was created in 2161.
    The Vulcans are a humanoid race from the planet Vulcan, which is about 16 light years from Earth. Vulcans are considered to be masters of logic who have found ways to suppress their violent emotions. Commander Spock is one of the most well-known Vulcans in the Star Trek universe.
    How to Celebrate?
    Have a Star Trek themed party for all your family and friends. Have your guests come dressed as their favorite characters. Make cheese pierogis, one of the dishes made by characters celebrating the day on the show. Attend a Star Trek fan meet and meet other like-minded people. Hold a Start Trek viewing marathon. Greet everyone you meet on this day with the Vulcan salute. To do this, raise your hands with your palm facing outwards, and your thumb away from your hand. Part your middle and ring finger such that the index and middle finger are together and your ring and little finger are close to each other. Did You Know…
    …that the first First Contact Day was celebrated 315 years after the first contact on 2378?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    My friend John and I, determined to see the world, signed on a Norwegian freighter as deckhands. We were being trained as helmsmen, and John's first lesson was given by the mate, a seasoned but gentle white-haired seafarer. John was holding the heading he had been given, when the mate ordered, "Come starboard."
    Pleased at knowing immediately which way starboard was, John left the helm and walked over to his instructor.
    The mate had an incredulous look on his face as the helm swung freely, but he merely asked politely, "Could you bring the ship with you?"
     
    ***
     
    While rummaging through her attic, my friend Kathryn found an old shotgun. Unsure about how to dispose of it, she called her parents. "Take it to the police station," her mother suggested. My friend was about to hang up when her mother added, "And Kathryn?"
    "Yes, Mom?"
    "Call first."  
     
    ***
     
    During a beautiful spring afternoon, I was attending the Cheat River Festival in West Virginia. Just as I stopped to listen to a folk singer, a group of exhibitors, dragging out tools and sawhorses, began setting up their display booth nearby. All their shouting and hammering made it difficult to enjoy the music. The noise they made got louder and even more obnoxious and intrusive as time went on. Finally, to everyone's relief, they completed the construction. As a finishing touch, they hung a sign on their booth.
    It read "Silent Auction."  
     
    ***
     
    Some newly married friends were visiting us when the topic of children came up. The bride said she wanted three children, while the young husband demurred, saying two would be enough for him. They discussed this discrepancy for a few minutes until the husband thought he'd put an end to things, saying boldly,
    "After our second child, I'll just have a vasectomy."

    Without a moment's hesitation, the bride retorted, "Well, I hope you'll love the third one like it's your own!"
     
     
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    sandrewn
  9. sandrewn

    MDBCs 04 Apr 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 611
    April 4th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Children's Day (Hong Kong, Taiwan) Christian feast day: Benedict the Moor Gaetano Catanoso Isidore of Seville Martin Luther King Jr. (Episcopal Church (USA)) Reginald Heber (Anglican Church of Canada) Tigernach of Clones Plato of Sakkoudion April 4 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Senegal from France (1960). Peace Day (Angola) One of the possible days for Qingming Festival.  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Hug a Newsperson Day
    404 Day
    Discover National Parks Fortnight
    Holy Tuesday
    International Carrot Day
    International Day for Landmine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action - 1
    International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action - 2
    Jeep 4×4 Day
    Mahavir Jayanti
    National Cordon Bleu Day
    National Dillon Day
    National School Librarian Day
    National Sexual Assault Awareness Month's Day of Action
    National Vitamin C Day
    National Walk Around Things Day
    SAAM Day of Action
    World Rat Day
    Victims of Violence Wholly Day
    D.A.R.E. Day
     
    Robert Downey Jr.’s Birthday
    Maya Angelou’s Birthday
    Jill Scott’s Birthday
    Grumpy Cat’s Birthday
    Eric Andre’s Birthday
    Daniel Lara’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
     Tell a Lie Day
    Nope, we aren’t lying, we promise! April 4 is Tell a Lie Day!

    The holiday of unknown origins comes just a few days after another holiday that celebrates trickery and lying - April Fool's Day and a few weeks before Honesty Day, a made-up holiday that honors the virtue of honesty and truth-telling.
    Acceptable Lying
    While the name suggests that the holiday encourages people to tell lies all day long, we would like to think that the day is not an actual celebration of lying but an acknowledgment that lying is part of life, and sometimes people have to lie to make others feel better. Such lies are called white lies and are possibly the only form of lying acceptable within most religions, cultures, and societies.
    Other acceptable forms of lying include: lying while playing a game (bluffing), lies made for the purposes of amusement of the liar or other people (jocose lies), and untruthful statements made without any malicious intent (honest lie).
    This holiday is also known as National Tell a Lie Day in the US.
    How to Celebrate?
    While we cannot in good conscience endorse or encourage lying, here are some harmless ways to celebrate this "fictional" holiday:
    Missed April Fool's Day? Use this day to make up for it by playing harmless tricks on friends, family, and colleagues. Make up silly stories about harmless things and recount them to the people around you. Who knows, you may even get a laugh or two out of your listeners! Read more about how to detect deception and lying. Play games that require bluffing. Read tales that warn people about the dangers of lying. Some of these tales include The Boy who Cried Wolf and Pinocchio. Did You Know...
    ...that a true or false response to the question this statement is not true leads to a contradiction called the Liar's Paradox? If the response to this statement is that it is true, then the statement is false, and if the response to the statement is that it is false, then the statement is true.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    I purchased a new desktop-publishing program that surprised me by containing a make-a-paper-airplane option. I decided to give it a try. After I selected the plane I wanted, the software gave me a choice of accessories available for my plane, including a stick-up tail, adjustable flaps and an AM/FM radio. Out of curiosity I chose the AM/FM radio.

    The program responded with a message box stating: "Come on, be serious. These are just paper airplanes.
     
    ***
     
    Luke, our venturesome 14-month-old son, was at my mother-in-law's house. He was playing with her car keys when the phone rang. After hanging up, my mother-in-law realized that Luke had put the keys down someplace, but she couldn't find them anywhere. Thinking quickly, she gave him another set of keys.

    As she pretended not to look, Luke toddled around the corner and into her bedroom. Then she watched as he carefully placed the second set of keys under her bed—right next to the original car keys.
     
    ***
     
    I had finished my Christmas shopping early and had wrapped all the presents. Having two curious children, I had to find a suitable hiding place. I chose an ideal spot—the furnace room. I stacked the presents and covered them with a blanket, positive they'd remain undiscovered.

    When I went to get the gifts to put them under the tree, I lifted the blanket and there, stacked neatly on top of my gifts, were presents addressed to "Mom and Dad, From the Kids."
     
    ***
     
    A man rushed to the jewelry counter in the store where I work soon after the doors opened one morning and said he needed a pair of diamond earrings. I showed him a wide selection, and quickly he picked out a pair.

    When I asked him if he wanted the earrings gift-wrapped, he said, "That'd be great. But can you make it quick? I forgot today was my anniversary, and my wife thinks I'm taking out the trash."
     
     
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    sandrewn
  10. sandrewn

    MDBCs 03 Apr 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 610
    April 3rd 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day:
    Agape, Chionia, and Irene Burgundofara Luigi Scrosoppi Richard of Chichester April 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    Independent Artist Day™
    World Cloud Security Day
    A Drop of Water is a Grain of Gold
    American Circus Day
    Armenian Appreciation Day
    Birth Anniversary of National Artist Lino Brocka
    Community Garden Week
    Don't Go to Work Unless it's Fun Day
    Fan Dance Day
    Fish Fingers and Custard Day
    Holy Monday
    National Chocolate Mousse Day
    National Film Score Day
    National Find a Rainbow Day
    National Grey Day
    National Inspiring Joy Day
    National Pro-Life T Shirt Day
    National Tweed Day
    NCCA Anniversary
    Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
    Pony Express Day
    Weed Out Hate Day
    World Aquatic Animal Day
     
    Sandra Boynton’s Birthday
    Young M.A’s Birthday
    Kelsey Weier’s Birthday
    Paris Jackson’s Birthday
    Giannina Milady Gibelli’s Birthday
    Emily Dobson’s Birthday
    Eddie Murphy’s Birthday
    Amber Pike’s Birthday
    Amanda Bynes’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
     World Party Day
    April 3 is World Party Day. Also known as P Day, it is an annually celebrated unofficial holiday that aims to achieve social change and harmony by encouraging people to celebrate life by partying.

    The idea behind the holiday is that the opposite of war and suffering should not be to passively observe peace. Instead, people must actively participate in the celebration of life.
    First in 1996
    The holiday is inspired by the ending of the 1995 novel, Flight: A Quantum Fiction Novel, by Vanna Bonta, where a countdown is set to April 3, 2000 when a worldwide synchronized celebration occurs. The first Party Day was held around the world in 1996.
    How to Celebrate?
    Research suggests that meeting new people from different cultures helps cultivate intercultural understanding and harmony. So why not throw a party for your family and friends and ask them to bring their friends and coworkers along? Organize a block party. Peace begins at home and by being neighborly. Spend time with your neighbors and celebrate your neighborhood. What about partying for a cause? Host a party and have your guests contribute to a cause close to your and your heart. Whatever you do and whoever you party with, remember that you need no excuse to celebrate life and to be good to others. Did You Know…
    …that the use of the word, party, to refer to a gathering where people have a good time dates back to 1922?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    The first Sunday after my husband and I bought a new car, we parked it in the last row of the church lot, not wanting to be ostentatious. While talking with friends, my husband, Byron, accidentally hit the panic button on his electronic key. Immediately our car's horn blared and its lights flashed.

    Watching Byron fumble with the button, his friend teased, "Wouldn't it have been in better taste to put a few lines in the church bulletin?"
     
    ***
     
    Everything is expensive in the upscale resort town where we live, and part of what you pay for is attitude. I realized this after I bought a couple pounds of hamburger at the fancy market on Main Street.

    When I was taking the meat out of the bag at home, I noticed the label, "Ground Charles."
     
    ***
     
    Our office building's only elevator was acting up. When I rode it to the lobby on my way to lunch, the door refused to open. Trying not to panic, I hit the emergency button, which triggers an automatic call to the repair service.

    Through the speaker in the elevator, I heard the call going through and then a recorded announcement: "The area code of the number you dialed has been changed. The new area code is 810. Please hang up and dial again."
     
    ***
     
    If athletes get athlete's foot, do astronauts get mistletoe?
     
     
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    sandrewn
  11. sandrewn

    MDBCs 02 Apr 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 609
    April 2nd 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Abundius of Como Amphianus of Lycia Æbbe the Younger Bronach of Glen-Seichis (Irish martyrology) Francis of Paola Francisco Coll Guitart Henry Budd (Anglican Church of Canada) Nicetius of Lyon Pedro Calungsod Theodosia of Tyre Urban of Langres April 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) International Children's Book Day (International) Thai Heritage Conservation Day (Thailand) Unity of Peoples of Russia and Belarus Day (Belarus) World Autism Awareness Day (International) Malvinas Day (Argentina)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
    Day of the Veterans
    Explore Your Career Options Week
     
     
     
    Geologists Day
    International Fact-Checking Day
    National Children’s Picture Book Day
    National DIY Day
    National Ferret Day
    National Love Your Produce Manager Day
    National Reconciliation Day
    National Ride Your Horse to a Bar Day
    Nature Day
    Palm Sunday
    Pascua Florida Day
    Semana Santa Spain
    World Autism Acceptance Day
    Education and Sharing Day
     
     
    Traci Braxton’s Birthday
    Shannon Boodram’s Birthday
    Quavo Marshall’s Birthday
    Marvin Gaye’s Birthday
    Daniel Seavey’s Birthday
    BadBoyHalo’s Birthday
     
     
    ***
     
     
    When my wife and I were vacationing in the eastern part of our state, our car's license plate was stolen. We planned to go to a local office for a replacement, but then we discovered that our registration had expired. The new one was at home in a pile of mail.

    After much thought, we came up with a solution. Taping a sign over the empty license-plate space on the rear of the vehicle, we made the eight-hour trip home safely. Not a single state trooper stopped us, but many passing motorists took great pains to honk and wave at us.

    Our sign read "Just Married!"
     
    ***
     
    As a fund-raiser, the chemistry club designed and sold T-shirts. Written across the front were our top "Stupid Chemistry Sayings":

    • Have yourself a Merry Little Bismuth

    • What do you do with dead people? Barium

    • You stupid boron!

    • We hope your year is very phosphorous.   ***
     
    My father began teaching business classes at the local prison through a community college. On his first night of class, he started a chapter on banking. During the course of his lecture, the subject of ATMs came up, and he mentioned that, on average, most machines contain only about $1,500 at a given time.

    Just then a man in the back raised his hand. "I'm not trying to be disrespectful," he told my father, "but the machine I robbed had about $5,000 in it."
     
    ***
     
    Touring Ireland's countryside with a group of travel writers, we passed an immaculate cemetery with hundreds of beautiful headstones set in a field of emerald green grass. Everyone reached for their cameras when the tour guide said the inventor of the crossword puzzle was buried there.
    He pointed out the location, "Three down and four across."
     
    ***
     
    My wife, Dolores, never quite got the hang of the 24-hour military clock. One day she called the orderly room and asked to speak with me. The person who answered told her to call me at the extension in the band rehearsal hall.
    "He can be reached at 4700, ma'am," the soldier advised.

    With a sigh of exasperation, my wife responded, "And just what time is that?"
     
     
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    sandrewn
  12. sandrewn

    MDBCs 01 Apr 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 608
    April 1st 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Cellach of Armagh Hugh of Grenoble Frederick Denison Maurice (Church of England) Mary of Egypt Melito of Sardis Tewdrig Theodora Walric, abbot of Leuconay April 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) April Fools' Day Odisha Day (Odisha, India) Arbor Day (Tanzania) Civil Service Day (Thailand) Cyprus National Day (Cyprus) Edible Book Day Fossil Fools Day Kha b-Nisan, the Assyrian New Year (Assyrian people)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action
    Boomer Bonus Days
    Education and Sharing Day
    Every Day is Tag Day
    International Firewalk Day
    International Pillow Fight Day
    Library Snap Shot Day
    Lupus Alert Day
    Myles Day
    Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month
    National Connor Day
    National Fun Day
    National Greeting Card Day
    National Handmade Day
    National Love Our Children Day
    National Loyal Day
    National One Cent Day
    National Sourdough Bread Day
    National Trombone Players Day
    Nickelodeon Anniversary Celebration Day
    Reading is Funny Day
    St. Stupid Day
    Tatting Day
    U.S. Air Force Academy Day - 1
    U.S. Air Force Academy Day - 2
    National DIY Day
    Tangible Karma Day
     
    Taina Williams’s Birthday
    Sean Taylor’s Birthday
    Randy Orton’s Birthday
    Rachel Maddow’s Birthday
    Logan Paul’s Birthday
    Jonny May’s Birthday
     
    Observances (click on the month for details)
    National Garden Month
    Autism Acceptance Month
    Stress Awareness Month
    National Jazz Appreciation Month
    National Poetry Month
    Poetic Earth Month
    National Couple Appreciation Month
    Month of the Military Child
    Active Dog Month
    Summer Tire Changeover Month
    National Decorating Month
    Parkinson’s Awareness Month
     
    Fun Observances
    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.
       
    ***
     
     
    One afternoon while I was visiting my library, I noticed a group of preschoolers gathered for story time. The book they were reading was "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly." After the librarian finished the first page, she asked the children, "Do you think she'll die?"

    "Nope," a little girl in the back said. "I saw this last night on 'Fear Factor.' "
     
    ***
     
    On the afternoon of Administrative Professionals Day, my co-worker and I finally found the time to get gifts for our secretaries. While at the store, my colleague noticed my disappointment when I discovered the shop didn't provide gift wrapping. "What's wrong?" he asked.

    "They won't wrap the gifts for us," I answered.

    "No problem," he said quickly. "I'll ask my secretary to do it."
     
    ***
     
    Our copier was on the fritz so I put a note on it: "Service has been called." When the technician told me he had to order parts, I added a second note: "Parts have been ordered."

    During the next five days, when we had to use an older, slower copier on the other side of the building, someone taped a third note to the machine: "Prayers have been said."
     
    ***
     
    When my printer's type began to grow faint, I called a local repair shop, where a friendly man informed me that the printer probably needed only to be cleaned. Because the store charged $50 for such cleanings, he told me, I might be better off reading the printer's manual and trying the job myself.

    Pleasantly surprised by his candor, I asked, "Does your boss know that you discourage business?"

    "Actually it's my boss's idea," the employee replied sheepishly. "We usually make more money on repairs if we let people try to fix things themselves first."
     
     
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    ( been there, done that)
     
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    (been there, done that, over and over again)
     
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    sandrewn
     
  13. sandrewn

    MDBCs 31 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 607
    March 31st 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Cesar Chavez Day (United States) Christian feast day Abdas of Susa Acathius of Melitene (Eastern Orthodox Church) Anesius and companions Benjamin Balbina John Donne (Anglican Communion, Lutheran) March 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis (Azerbaijan) Freedom Day (Malta) International Transgender Day of Visibility King Nangklao Memorial Day (Thailand) Thomas Mundy Peterson Day (New Jersey, United States) Transfer Day (US Virgin Islands) World Backup Day  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Après Day
    Anesthesia Tech Day
    Dance Marathon Day
    Eiffel Tower Day
    International Hug a Medievalist Day
    National Clams on the Half Shell Day
    Crayola Crayon Day - 1
    National Crayon Day - 2
    National Farm Workers Day
    National Prom Day
    National She's Funny That Way Day - 1
    She’s Funny That Way Day - 2
    National Tater Day
    Terri's Day
    National Cream Cheese Frosting Day
    Wear A Hat Day
     
    Liza Koshy’s Birthday
    Kids Diana Show’s Birthday
    Ewan McGregor’s Birthday
    Johann Sebastian Bach’s Birthday
    Cesar Chavez’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
    Bunsen Burner Day
    Bunsen Burner Day on March 31 celebrates the inventor of the Bunsen Burner, German chemist Robert Wilhelm Eberhard von Bunsen.

    The most important contribution of Robert Bunsen, one that changed chemistry labs all over the world, was the Bunsen Burner.
    Revolutionized Chemistry
    A staple in all chemistry labs, the Bunsen Burner is a device that uses a flammable gas to produce a hot flame.
    The Bunsen Burner was the precursor to the gas stove many people used in their homes today.
    Photochemistry
    Born on March 31, 1811, Robert Bunsen is thought to be a trailblazer in the field of photochemistry. Photochemistry is a specialized branch of chemistry that looks at the chemical effects of light.
    He was also well-known for his work on the chemistry of arsenic, a chemical element that is used for a variety of purposes including preserving wood, but is also toxic to human beings and animals in larger quantities.
    How to Celebrate?
    Honor your chemistry teachers on this day. Thank them for all the knowledge they have imparted you. Introduce young adults and children in your life to the joys of chemistry. Learn more about the life of Robert Bunsen. Did You Know…
    …that Robert Bunsen also discovered cesium and rubidium with Gustav Kirchhoff? Cesium is one of 5 elements that are liquid at room temperature.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    I was teaching a life-skills class to my high school students one day, and we were discussing the various terms one might encounter in a restaurant. I asked, "What does the phrase 'à la carte' mean?"
    "It means," a student said, "you're in the wrong restaurant."
     
    ***
     
    When employees of the restaurant where I work attended a fire-safety seminar, we watched a fire official demonstrate the proper way to operate an extinguisher. "Pull the pin like a hand grenade," he explained, "then depress the trigger to release the foam."

    Later, an employee was selected to extinguish a controlled fire in the parking lot. In her nervousness, she forgot to pull the pin.

    Our instructor hinted, "Like a hand grenade, remember?"

    In a burst of confidence, she pulled the pin—and hurled the extinguisher at the blaze.
     
    ***
     
    When I bought my new Lexus Sport Coupe, my two sons asked me who would inherit it if I met my demise. I pondered the question, then told them if I passed away on an even day, the son born on an even day would get it. If it happened on an odd day, the one born on the odd day would get it.

    A few weekends later, while river rafting with one of my sons, I was tossed out of the boat. As I floated in the rapids, I heard my son yelling, "It's the wrong day!"
     
    ***
     
    Going over our weekly training schedule one morning at our small Army garrison, we noticed that our annual trip to the rifle range had been canceled for the second time, but that our semi–annual physical-fitness test was still on as planned.
    "Does it bother anyone else," one soldier asked,
    "that the Army doesn't seem concerned with how well we can shoot, yet is extremely interested in how fast we can run?"
     
     
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    sandrewn
  14. sandrewn

    MDBCs 30 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 606
    March 30th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Blessed Amadeus IX, Duke of Savoy Blessed Maria Restituta Kafka John Climacus Mamertinus of Auxerre Quirinus of Neuss Thomas Son Chasuhn, Marie-Nicolas-Antoine Daveluy (part of The Korean Martyrs) Tola of Clonard March 30 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Land Day (Palestine) National Doctors' Day (United States) Spiritual Baptist/Shouter Liberation Day (Trinidad and Tobago) School Day of Non-violence and Peace (Spain)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    Grass is Always Browner on the Other Side of the Fence Day
    National Fitness Recovery Day
    National Folding Laundry Day
    National I Am In Control Day
    National Julia Day
    National Pencil Day
    National Victoria Day
    National Virtual Vacation Day
    National Wendy Day
    Ram Navami Day - 1
    Ram Navami - 2
    Torrents Day
    Turkey Neck Soup Day
    World Bipolar Day
    World Tb-303 Appreciation day
     
    Vincent van Gogh’s Birthday
    Eric Clapton’s Birthday
    NF’s Birthday
    Celine Dion’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
      Take a Walk in the Park Day
    Commune with nature and enjoy the bounties it has to offer on Take a Walk in the Park Day.

    Celebrated annually on March 30, the unofficial holiday encourages people to get active and enjoy the physical and mental benefits that come from walking in nature.
    Better Health
    Studies have shown that walking for about 30 minutes a day can have huge health benefits. Walking can not only help burn calories and reduce weight, but can also lower the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancers. It can also increase heart activity and lower blood pressure.
    Reduces Stress and Boosts Mood
    Walking in nature - away from the dust and pollution of streets and cars - can boost moods and reduce stress. Studies have shown that people who hike or walk in green areas tend to be happier than those who don't.
    Take a Walk in the Park Day is also sometimes known as National Take a Walk in the Park Day in the United States.
    How to Celebrate?
    This one's easy. Wear your finest walking shoes, leave your phone behind and breathe in the fresh air as you walk around your local park. Recruit a good friend or a fun family member to accompany you on your walk. What better way to enjoy nature and maintain your health than to share it with a loved one? Did You Know...
    ...that the Northeast Greenland National Park in Greenland is the world's largest national park? Also the world's northern-most park, it covers around 375,000 square miles (972,000 square kilometers) of land.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Living in a dry county was the bane of my friend Robert's existence. He was complaining to me one day about having to make a 60-mile round trip to get his favorite brand of bourbon. "I buy it by the case," he said.

    "Are you addicted to that stuff?" I asked.

    Robert thought for a second. "I don't know. I've never run out."
     
    ***
     
    Finishing up our work at a trade show in San Diego, my co-worker Maureen and I decided to go sightseeing across the border in Tijuana, Mexico. While there, we went shopping and bought a few pieces of clay kitchenware. As we crossed back into the United States, a customs official asked if we had anything of value to report.
    "Not really," Maureen replied, digging in her bag for the bean crock she had purchased. Everyone around us froze as she continued, "I only bought a little pot."
     
    ***
     
    My friend Ann and I were eating at a Chinese restaurant. When an elderly waiter set chopsticks at our places, Ann made a point of reaching into her purse and pulling out her own pair. "As an environmentalist," she declared, "I do not approve of destroying bamboo forests for throwaway utensils."

    The waiter inspected her chopsticks. "Very beautiful," he said politely. "Ivory."
     
    ***
     
    A group of Alaskan housewives had gotten together for morning coffee and, since several of us were pregnant, the talk drifted to babies and doctors.

    One of the women announced that she was now going to a woman doctor. "At least," she said, "I'll be able to depend on my doctor being around during moose season!"
     
     
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    (I guess that makes me a certified fool😉)
     
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    Update
    The Boss Bear: Meet the Most Badass Bear in Banff
     
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    sandrewn
  15. sandrewn

    MDBCs 29 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 605
    March 29th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Armogastes Berthold of Calabria Gwynllyw Jonas and Barachisius March 29 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Boganda Day (Central African Republic) Commemoration of the 1947 Rebellion (Madagascar) National Vietnam War Veterans Day (United States) Day of the Young Combatant (Chile) Youth Day (Taiwan)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    Manatee Appreciation Day
    National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day
    Knights Of Columbus Founder's Day - 1
    Knights of Columbus Founders Day - 2
    Little Red Wagon Day
    Mermaid Day
    National Governance Professionals Day
    National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day
    Niagara Falls Runs Dry Day
    Payday It Forward
    Texas Loves the Children Day
    Vietnam Veterans Day
    Whole Grain Sampling Day
    World Piano Day
     
    Sulli’s Birthday
    Mark Thomas’s Birthday
    Irene’s Birthday
    Jack Wright’s Birthday
    CJ So Cool’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
     Smoke and Mirrors Day
    Celebrate the magic on Smoke and Mirrors Day. Also sometimes known as Festival of Smoke and Mirrors Day, this unofficial holiday is celebrated annually on March 29.

    Smoke and mirrors is an English language phrase that is used to describe things and actions that are deceptive, manipulative, or lack complete explanation.
    Act of Illusion
    Usually associated with illusionists and magicians, it is thought that the phrase originated from the classic act of illusion where a magician makes objects or people appear or disappear by using smokes and mirrors as a distraction. Because of this, the phrase is often used to refer to actions that distract from the reality or cover up the truth.
    Things That Do Not Exist
    In computing, the term smoke and mirrors is often used to refer to programs that seem to exist, but in reality do not.
    Mirror Magic
    Magic as a performance art has been used to entertain people around the world since ancient times. In smoke and mirror magic tricks, magicians create optical illusions by diverting a spectator's attention away from the actions that create the "magic". Mirrors are also often used to create illusions by manipulating light and using the properties of reflection and refraction. Some of the popular magic tricks using mirrors include the Sphinx and the Vampire. In both tricks, mirrors are used to hide the object, usually the head of a person.
    How to Celebrate?
    Learn some magic tricks and entertain your friends and colleagues. Preferably try to use smoke and mirrors in your tricks. Spend some time learning about how to achieve illusions using mirrors. Did You Know...
    ...that the earliest mirrors used by humans were bodies of dark, still water?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    While on vacation, my wife and I stopped for lunch at a diner. We sat at the counter, right next to the grill. The cook was a young man who was very busy flipping pancakes. Every so often, he would stop and hit the grill with the handle of the spatula. Finally I asked him facetiously, "Does that improve the taste of the pancakes?"

    "No," he replied. "That keeps the handle from falling off."
     
    ***
     
    Searching in my library for two books by communications expert Deborah Tannen turned into an Abbott and Costello routine. "What's the first book?" the librarian asked.

    "That's Not What I Meant," I said.

    "Well, what did you mean?"

    "That's the title of the book," I explained.

    "Okay." She looked at me a little skeptically. "And the other book?"

    "You Just Don't Understand."

    "Excuse me?"

    I got both books. Eventually.
     
    ***
     
    Coincidences were flying when a man was arrested and charged with stealing a bird feeder from Cornell University's ornithology laboratory. According to the Associated Press, police charged James Buzzard, 44, who lives on Cardinal Drive in Ithaca, N.Y., with stealing the feeder from the lab on Sapsucker Woods Road.
     
    ***
     
    A friend living in an isolated Montana mining town suspected that she wasn't getting the best dental care. Her first trip to a competent dentist in Butte confirmed her suspicions.

    After a thorough examination the dentist asked but one question: "Been doing your own work?"
     
     
     
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    sandrewn
  16. sandrewn

    MDBCs 28 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 604
    March 28th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Priscus Pope Sixtus III March 28 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Serfs Emancipation Day (Tibet) Teachers' Day (Czech Republic and Slovakia)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    Respect Your Cat Day
    American Diabetes Alert Day
    Barnum & Bailey Day
    Eat an Eskimo Pie Day
    National Amber Day
    National Black Forest Cake Day
    National Hot Tub Day
    National Ram Day
    National Triglycerides Day
    National Weed Appreciation Day
    Virtual Advocacy Day
     
    Vince Vaughn’s Birthday
    Reba McEntire’s Birthday
    Kate Gosselin’s Birthday
    Jackson Wang’s Birthday
    Caleb Coffee’s Birthday
    Lady Gaga’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
    Something on a Stick Day
    March 28 is Something on a Stick Day. It is a day to have fun with your food and to celebrate delicious and easy-to-eat dishes on a stick.

    In many cultures, snacks and road-side food are served on a stick or a skewer.
    Savory or Sweet
    These snacks are usually chunks of vegetables or meat that are grilled, baked, or fried. Food on a stick can be savory or sweet and can be served hot or cold.
    Meat on a Stick
    Kebabs (kebap or kebob) are some of the most well-known snacks that are cooked and or served on sticks. Usually made of lamb meat, though pork, beef, and chicken can also be used to make the dish, kebabs are eaten around the world as a snack or as a main dish.
    Easy to Handle
    Another favorite food on a stick, typically found at fairs and food markets is a corn dog - a sausage that is dipped in a batter and fried.
    Sweet snacks that are often served on a stick include caramel apples, ice pops, and cotton candy.
    How to Celebrate?
    Throw an everything-on-a-stick-party and serve your guests food and drinks (think popsicles) on a stick. Rethink what you eat daily as dishes on a stick. What about making pancakes on a stick or pies on a stick? Prefer to be healthy? Eat fruit on a stick. Did You Know...
    ...that the ancient Greeks used sticks or skewers to cook their meat?
     
     
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    Several months ago, my daughter and I had similar virus symptoms. She decided to consult a doctor so as not to lose any more time from her job.

    “I’ll see the doctor,” she said, “and then tell you what’s wrong with us.”

    The next day she called to say, “Guess what, Mom. We’re pregnant!”
     
    ***
     
    I was editing classified ads for a small-town newspaper when a man called to place an ad. "It should read," he said, "‘Free to good home. Golden retriever. Will eat anything, loves children.’"
     
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    Once while riding the bus to work, I noticed a man at a stop enjoying a cup of coffee. As we approached the stop, he finished drinking and set the cup on the ground. This negligence surprised me, since it seemed to be a good ceramic cup.

    Days later I saw the same man again drinking his coffee at the bus stop. Once again, he placed the cup on the grass before boarding. When the bus pulled away, I looked back in time to see a dog carefully carrying the cup in his mouth as he headed for home.
     
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    The board of education in a nearby town sold off a building that had been a one-room schoolhouse. The buyer converted it to a tavern. One day an elderly man was walking by the place with his grandson and pointed to the building.

    "That's where I went to school when I was your age."

    "Really," said the boy. "Who was your bartender back then?"
     
     
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    sandrewn
  17. sandrewn

    MDBCs 27 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 603
    March 27th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Alexander, a Pannonian soldier, martyred in 3rd century. Amador of Portugal Augusta of Treviso Charles Henry Brent (Episcopal Church (USA)) Gelasius, Archbishop of Armagh John of Egypt Philetus Romulus of Nîmes, a Benedictine abbot, martyred c. 730. Rupert of Salzburg Zanitas and Lazarus of Persia March 27 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Armed Forces Day (Myanmar) Day of the Union of Bessarabia with Romania (Romania) World Theatre Day (International)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    Celebrate Exchange Day
    International Scribble Day
    International Whiskey Day
    National Acoustic Soul Day
    National Joe Day
    National Medical Science Liaison Awareness and Appreciation Day
    Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day
    Seward’s Day
    Viagra Day
     
    Mariah Carey’s Birthday
    Vicki Gunvalson’s Birthday
    Lalisa Manoban’s Birthday
    KennaDee Kay Haddock’s Birthday
    Kendra Scott’s Birthday
    Brenda Song’s Birthday
    Quentin Tarantino’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
    Spanish Paella Day
    March 27 is Spanish Paella Day. Celebrate this unofficial holiday by cooking this rice and saffron dish.

    Paella is a quintessentially Spanish rice dish that is thought to have originated in the Valencia region of Spain.
    Rice and Saffron
    The dish is typically made of rice, different kinds of beans, and meat. It is flavored with saffron, paprika, and other spices and herbs.
    Different Types
    At least two different versions of the dish exist. Seafood paella replaces the beans and the meat, which is usually chicken, rabbit, or snails, with seafood. Common seafood additions to the seafood paella are lobster, mussels, and shrimp. Mixed paella, on the other hand, includes both meat and seafood.
    Special Pan
    Paella is usually cooked over an open fire in a large shallow steel pan with two handles, also called paella. Tradition has it that diners must eat directly out of the pan.
    How to Celebrate?
    With some paella, of course! Whip up a batch at home or visit your local Spanish restaurant to enjoy this delicious rice dish. If you have always wanted to visit Spain, what better excuse to book your next vacation to the country and sample some local paella? Did You Know…
    …that the paella comes from the Latin word patella, meaning pan?
     
     
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    Q. There's a one-story house where everything inside is pink: pink walls, pink doors, pink floors, pink ceilings, pink windows, pink curtains, pink chairs, and pink tables. What color are the stairs?
    A. There are none—it's a one-story house!
     
    ***
     
    Son: What's the difference between love and marriage?
    Father: Love is blind. Marriage is an eye opener.
     
    ***
     
    A man boards a plane and is seated next to an Air Marshall and his ‘sniffing dog’.  Soon, the plane takes off and the Marshall says, “Sniffer, search.” The dog walks along the aisle, and stops next to a woman. He then returns to his seat and puts a paw on the Marshall’s arm.
    “Good boy,” says the Marshall.
    “What happened?” asks the man.
    “That woman is in possession of marijuana. We’ll arrest her when we land.”
    Once again, Sniffer searches the aisles. He stops beside a man, then returns to his seat, and places two paws on the Marshall’s arm. 
    “That man is carrying cocaine,” the Marshall explains.
    The dog walks up the aisle again, then races back, jumps into his seat, and poops all over it.
    “What’s going on?!” demands the man.
    The Marshall nervously replies, “He just found a bomb!”
     
    ***
     
    My husband is a big Atlanta Braves fan. When I saw an ad on television for a baseball autographed by one of his favorite players that cost $42, I rushed out and bought it for him as a gift.

    That evening as we were watching television, the same commercial came on. Slyly I glanced over at my husband just as he commented, "What kind of idiot would pay $42 for a baseball?"
     
     
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    sandrewn
  18. sandrewn

    MDBCs 26 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 602
    March 26th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast days: Castulus Emmanuel and companions Felicitas Harriet Monsell (Church of England) Larissa Ludger Richard Allen (Episcopal Church (USA)) March 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Independence Day and National Day (Bangladesh), celebrates the declaration of independence from Pakistan in 1971. Martyr's Day or Day of Democracy (Mali) Prince Kūhiō Day (Hawaii, United States) Purple Day (Canada and United States) Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel (Eastern Christianity)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Spinach Day
    Black Marriage Day
    British Summer Time Begins
    Good Hair Day
    Live Long and Prosper Day
    National Day of Life, Peace and Justice
    National Landon Day
    National Nougat Day
    National Wayne Day
    Nike Air Max Day
    Solitude Day
    Wear A Hat Day
    National Neighbor Day
     
    Steven Tyler’s Birthday
    Kenny Chesney’s Birthday
    Nancy Pelosi’s Birthday
    Jeff Magid’s Birthday
    Gavin Magnus’s Birthday
    Diana Ross’s Birthday
    Danielle Bregoli’s Birthday
    Brittany Banks’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
    Make Up Your Own Holiday Day
    March 26 is Make Up Your Own Holiday Day. It is a day to think up of a thing, person, animal, phrase, or food and create a holiday to celebrate it.

    The unofficial holiday honors all made-up holidays past, present, and future and encourages people to come up with creative, quirky, offbeat, important, and significant things to celebrate, observe, and commemorate.
    The holiday is also known as National Make up Your Own Holiday Day in the United States.
    Special Days
    A holiday is a special day during the year, when normal, day-to-day activities such as going to school or work or opening up businesses are temporarily interrupted. On these days, other activities such as visiting places of worship, preparing special meals, and decorating homes and places of businesses are encouraged.
    Unofficial and Official
    Holidays can be official or unofficial. Official holidays usually mean that they are sanctioned by the government. Everyone who observes the holiday usually gets the day off from work. Official holidays can be religious, like Christmas, Diwali, Yom Kippur, or Eid al-Fitr; or they can be national, like the country's independence or constitution day. Other official holidays, like New Year's Day or Labor Day, are secular holidays and can be celebrated by people of all religious faiths.
    Fun and Serious Holidays
    Unofficial holidays, on the other hand, are not sanctioned by the government. This means that people usually do not get a day off, nor do businesses or government offices close to celebrate or observe the holiday. Unofficial holidays can include national and global awareness holidays such as UN days, and fun holidays that celebrate trivial, unimportant, and fun things like food, movies, books, and television series.
    How to Celebrate?
    Make up your own holiday, of course! Create a holiday, spread the word and celebrate it when the day comes. If you want to make it official, you may have to talk to your local representative - only an official act of the legislature or government can make a holiday a national day. Did You Know...
    ...that the holiday comes from the Old English word haligdæg, meaning holy day?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    "Daddy," said my 11-year-old daughter, "I think I want to join the Army."

    "Baby," I answered, "I think the Air Force would be a better option for you."

    "But I don't want to be a pilot."

    "You don't have to be a pilot," I told her. "There are other jobs in the Air Force."

    Her answer: "I don't want to be a flight attendant either."
     
    ***
     
    Think it's easy being a tour guide? VisitBritain, a travel bureau, has compiled these tourist questions.

    "Is Wales closed during the winter?"

    "Why did they build Windsor Castle on the flight path of Heathrow?"

    "Who feeds the Loch Ness monster?"

    "Are there any Sheena Easton museums in Glasgow?"
     
    ***
     
    10 Quotes About Springtime
    "Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party'""
    --Robin Williams


    "The weather here is gorgeous. It's mild and feels like it's in the eighties. The hot dog vendors got confused because of the weather and thought it was spring, so they accidentally changed the hot dog water in their carts."
    --David Letterman


    "In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt."
    --Margaret Atwood


    "If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."
    -- Josh Billings


    "Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into."
    -- Henry Ward Beecher


    "Gardens and flowers have a way of bringing people together, drawing them from their homes."
    -- Clare Ansberry


    "The earth laughs in flowers."
    -- e e cummings


    "At my age flowers scare me."
    -- George Burns


    "If the English language made any sense, lackadaisical would have something to do with a shortage of flowers."
    -- Doug Larsen


    "A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin."
    -- H. L Mencken  
    ***
     
    When I arrived at school for my daughter's parent-teacher conference, the teacher seemed a bit flustered, especially when she started telling me that my little girl didn't always pay attention in class and was sometimes a little flighty.

    "For example, she'll do the wrong page in the workbook," the teacher explained, "and I've even found her sitting at the wrong desk."

    "I don't understand," I replied defensively. "Where could she have gotten that?"

    The teacher went on to reassure me that my daughter was still doing fine in school and was sweet and likable. Finally, after a pause, she added, "By the way, Mrs. Gulbrandsen, our appointment was tomorrow."
     
     
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    sandrewn
  19. sandrewn

    MDBCs 25 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 601
    March 25th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Anniversary of the Arengo and the Feast of the Militants (San Marino) Christian feast days: March 25 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Christian Saints' days Ælfwold II of Sherborne Barontius and Desiderius Blessed Marie-Alphonsine Danil Ghattas Omelyan Kovch (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church) Dismas, the "Good Thief" Humbert of Maroilles Quirinus of Tegernsee Commemoration Day for the Victims of Communist Genocide (Latvia) Cultural Workers Day (Russia) Empress Menen's Birthday (Rastafari) EU Talent Day (European Union) Freedom Day (Belarus) Independence Day, celebrates the start of Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire, in 1821. (Greece) International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (international) International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members (United Nations General Assembly) International Day of the Unborn Child (international) Maryland Day (Maryland, United States) Medal of Honor Day (United States) Mother's Day (Slovenia) New Year's Day (Lady Day) in England, Wales, Ireland, and some of the future United States and Canada from 1155 through 1751, until the Calendar (New Style) Act 1750 moved it to 1 January (and adopted the Gregorian calendar. (The year 1751 began on 25 March; the year 1752 began on 1 January.) NZ Army Day Quarter day (first of four) in Ireland and England. Struggle for Human Rights Day (Slovakia) Tolkien Reading Day Vårfrudagen or Våffeldagen, "Waffle Day" (Sweden, Norway & Denmark)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    Bed-in for Peace Day
    Earth Hour
    Feast of the Annunciation
    National Dante Day
    National Guadalupe Day
    National Lobster Newburg Day
    National Michelle Shafer Half-Moon Cookie Day
    National OmazingYou Day
    Walk in the Sand Day
    World Retrospective Day
    Pecan Day
     
    Sha'Carri Richardson’s Birthday
    Sarah Jessica Parker’s Birthday
    Big Sean’s Birthday
    Elton John’s Birthday
    Aretha Franklin’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances ( 2 )
    Waffle Day
    Waffles have, as far as we know, three holidays in the year dedicated to them – On March 11, March 25, and August 24.

    This Waffle Day originated in Sweden.
    Swedish Mistake
    Known as Våffeldagen, legend has it that the holiday was mistakenly created due to a mispronunciation of Vårfrudagen. Vårfrudagen or Our Lady’s Day is a Christian holiday also known as Annunciation.
    Today, many countries around the world celebrate March 25 as Waffle Day.
    Originated in Europe
    Waffles are dough or batter cooked between two hot plates, usually made of iron. The dish is thought to have originated in Europe and is now enjoyed all around the world for breakfast, as a snack, or as dessert.
    Waffle Iron Patent Awarded
    In the United States, Waffle Day is celebrated on August 24. The unofficial holiday commemorates the day in 1869 when the first waffle iron was patented.
    The healthier version, Oatmeal Nut Waffle Day, is celebrated on March 11.
    How to Celebrate?
    With waffles! Make them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Experiment with toppings – make savory waffles instead of sweet waffles. Try the American soul food version of fried chicken and waffles. Have a waffle party and have your family and friends bring their most innovative waffle dish. Did You Know...
    ...that Belgian Waffles were created and introduced to the world for the first time in the United States? Maurice Vermersch introduced them at the 1964 New York World's Fair as the Bel-Gem Waffle.
    ~~~~~~~
    Tolkien Reading  Day
    March 25 is Tolkien Reading Day. Celebrate the unofficial holiday by reading some of your favorite Tolkien books.

    Created in 2003 by the Tolkien Society, the unofficial holiday encourages people to read all of English author, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien’s (J.R.R Tolkien) works.
    Lord of the Rings
    Thought to be one of the world’s most read fantasy writers, J.R.R. Tolkien is best known for his Lord of the Rings (LOTR) trilogy. A sequel to Tolkien's other popular novel, The Hobbit, the LOTR trilogy is set in a fantasy land called the Middle-earth. Middle-earth is a continent on the fictional world called Arda.
    The One Ring
    The trilogy gets its name from the One Ring that the main villain in the books, Dark Lord Sauron, created to rule over the other Rings of Power. These rings - 3 for the Elves, 7 for Dwarves and 9 for Men - were created by Sauron or the elves under Sauron's guidance.
    Downfall of the Villain
    March 25 was chosen as the date for Tolkien Reading Day because it coincides with the date of the downfall of Sauron and Barad-dûr in the Lord of the Rings. Barad-dûr is the fictional tower from which Sauron rules Mordor. In the books, this happens on March 25, 3019 when the Ring falls into the Cracks of Doom.
    How to Celebrate?
    Read any of J.R.R. Tolkien's work. Attend public readings of his works organized by your local Tolkien fan organizations. Host a marathon viewing of the movies based on the books. Did You Know...
    ...that Tolkien was known to speak around 20 languages?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Fact: We salesmen believe we can sell anything. But my confidence was put to the test recently in a hotel lobby. When the doors to the elevator opened, it was packed with women. I walked in, flashed a broad grin, and said, "Looks like tonight is my lucky night."

    "Don't count on it," said a voice in the back. "We're nuns."
     
    ***
     
    A guy suffering from a miserable cold begs his doctor for relief. The doctor prescribes pills. But after a week, the guy's still sick. So the doctor gives him a shot. But that doesn't help his condition either.

    "Okay, this is what I want you to do," says the doctor on the third visit. "Go home and take a hot bath. Then throw open all the windows and stand in the draft."

    "I'll get pneumonia!" protests the patient.

    "I know. That I can cure."
     
    ***
     
    A pirate walks into a bar with a paper towel on his head. The bartender says, "What's with the paper towel?"

    The pirate says, "Arrr! I've got a Bounty on me head!"
     
    ***
     
    Soon after being transferred to a new duty station, my Marine husband called home one evening to tell me he would be late. "Dirty magazines were discovered in the platoon quarters," he said, "and the whole squad is being disciplined."

    I launched into a tirade, arguing that Marines should not be penalized for something so trivial.

    My husband interrupted. "Honey, when I said ‘dirty magazines,’ I meant the clips from their rifles hadn’t been cleaned."
     
    ***
     
    Having fought the battle of the bulge most of my life, I found the battle getting even harder as I approached middle age. One evening, after trying on slacks that were too tight, I said to my husband, "I'll be so glad when we become grandparents. After all, who cares if grandmothers are fat?"

    His prompt reply: "Grandfathers."
     
     
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    sandrewn
  20. sandrewn

    MDBCs 24 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 600
    March 24th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Catherine of Vadstena Hildelith of Barking Mac Cairthinn of Clogher Óscar Romero (Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Lutheranism) Paul Couturier (Church of England) Walter Hilton (Church of England) March 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice (Argentina) International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims National Tree Planting Day (Uganda) Student Day (Scientology) World Tuberculosis Day (International)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    Independent Accommodations Day
    Commonwealth Covenant Day
    Flatmates Day
    International Day For Achievers
    National Adverse Drug Event Awareness Day
    National Cheesesteak Day
    National Cocktail Day
    National Each Person is A Person of Worth Day
    National Stephanie Day
     
    The Undertaker’s Birthday
    Peyton Manning’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
    Chocolate Covered Raisins Day
    Celebrate the almost healthy, chewy, and chocolatey snack on March 24 or Chocolate Covered Raisin Day.

    Made by coating raisins with milk, dark, or white chocolate, chocolate covered raisins are a popular movie theater snack in the United States.
    Dried Grapes
    Raisins are dried grapes and are used in many parts of the world for cooking, baking, and as a snack. Usually sun dried, raisins have a high amount of sugar - almost 75% of their weight is sugar. They contain antioxidants, are high in fiber, and have a low glycemic index. They are also known to have blood pressure reducing properties.
    Can Be Healthy
    Chocolate is considered to be a health food, especially when it is not consumed with high amounts of sugar. Eaten in its purest form or with little sugar, chocolate can help reduce risks of stroke, heart disease, and blood pressure. It can also help boost mood and improve eyesight.
    Chocolate covered raisins are sometimes called Raisinets, after a popular brand of chocolate covered raisins.
    Chocolate Covered Holidays
    Bittersweet Chocolate With Almonds Day and Chocolate Covered Anything Day are other holidays that celebrate chocolate covered snacks and food during the year.
    How to Celebrate?
    Make your own chocolate covered raisins. Share the snack with family and friends. Did You Know…
    …that the scientific name for the cacao tree, theobroma cacao, means the food of deities?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    My high-school basketball team was scheduled to play in the district tournament, and when we got there we were all excited to find our pictures and our stats published in the glossy program. My friend Brian Bird, a senior who was having a great season, eagerly searched for his name. But then he threw the program down in disgust, and I figured that there must be some error in his entry.

    Sure enough, his name appeared as "Bird, Brain."
     
    ***
     
    Desperate for a child, a couple asked their priest to pray for them. "I'm going on sabbatical to Rome," he replied. "I'll light a candle in St. Peter's for you."

    When the priest returned three years later, he found the wife pregnant, tending two sets of twins. Elated, the priest asked to speak to her husband and congratulate him.

    "He's gone to Rome," came the harried reply, "to blow out that candle."
     
    ***
     
    Today in the markets, helium was up; feathers were down. Paper was stationary. Elevators rose, while escalators continued their slow decline. Mining equipment hit rock bottom. The market for raisins dried up. Coca-Cola fizzled. Balloon prices were inflated. And Scott Tissue reached a new bottom.
     
    ***
     
    Two convicts are working on a chain gang. "I heard the warden's daughter up and married a guy down on cellblock D," the first con says to the other. "The warden's mighty upset about it too."

    "Why?" asks the second prisoner. "Because she married a con?"

    "No. Because they eloped."
     
    ***
     
    The family was viewing old slides and one flashed on the screen that caught everyone's attention. My father, wearing his favorite golf shirt, was holding me at the tender age of three weeks. The look on his face told all.
    "There's my prize possession," my father said.
    Touched, I smiled at him as he continued, "I wonder whatever happened to that golf shirt?"
     
     
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    The Wasps That Built This Nest Knew What They Were Doing
     
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    An homage to the " Fifth Element"
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    sandrewn
  21. sandrewn

    MDBCs 23 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 599
    March 23rd 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Gregory the Illuminator (Episcopal Church) Gwinear Joseph Oriol Ottone Frangipane Rafqa Pietra Choboq Ar-Rayès (Maronite Church) Turibius of Mogrovejo Victorian, Frumentius and Companions March 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of Hungarian-Polish Friendship (Hungary and Poland) Day of the Sea (Bolivia) Family Day (South Africa) Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Day (Azerbaijan) Pakistan Day (Pakistan) Promised Messiah Day (Ahmadiyya) World Meteorological Day  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    Atheist Day
    Chips and Dip Day - 1
    National Chip and Dip Day - 2
    Cuddly Kitten Day
    Melba Toast Day
    National Alice Day
    National Chia Day
    National Jacob Day
    National Tamale Day
    OK Day
    Otago Anniversary Day
    Ramadan Begins
    Ravenclaw Pride Day
    South African Liberation Day
    World Math Day
     
    Renjun’s Birthday
    Quando Rondo’s Birthday
    KarinaOMG’s Birthday
    Kyrie Irving’s Birthday
    Joan Crawford’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances ( 2 )
    Puppy Day
    March 23 is Puppy Day, a day reserved for recognizing the joy and love that puppies bring to our lives.

    First celebrated in 2006, the unofficial holiday, which is also known as National Puppy Day in the United States, was created by Coleen Paige, an animal behaviorist. The day calls for people to adopt puppies and to work towards putting an end to puppy farms and mills.
    Inhumane Treatment
    Puppy mills are places where dogs are kept and bred for the sole purpose of selling them. Many mills operate under inhumane conditions and treat dogs only as breeding machines. Old or sick dogs, and those that are unable to give birth to puppies are often left loose on the streets to fend themselves or euthanized. Puppy Day shines a light on these conditions and encourages people to adopt their canine family members. By doing so, it reduces the financial incentives that keep puppy mills running.
    Celebrated Many Times a Year
    The deep bond between humans and their furry best friends is celebrated several times in a year. Unofficial annual holidays that are dedicated to the canines in our families include Dog Appreciation Day, Take Your Dog to Work Day, Work Like a Dog Day, and Hug Your Hound Day.
    How to Celebrate?
    If you already have puppies, give them an extra hug on this day and show them how much you love them. If you are thinking of adding one to your family, don’t dilly dally. Go to your nearest adoption center and adopt a puppy today. Don’t have a puppy or prefer to have kittens around? Don’t despair, you can spoil and pamper your furry feline on Hug Your Cat Day. Did You Know…
    ...that a dog’s nose print is as unique as a human’s fingerprint?
    ~~~~~~~
    Near Miss Day
    March 23 is Near Miss Day, an annual reminder of the day in 1989 when an asteroid nearly collided with the Earth.

    The 300-meter wide asteroid called 4581 Asclepius flew past the Earth by a distance of about 450,000 miles (684,000 kms) and almost missed striking it by 6 hours. Experts estimate that if the asteroid had hit the Earth, the resulting collision would have released energy equal to about 1000 atom bombs!
    Discovered Days Later
    It is a good thing then that the asteroid wasn't discovered until March 31, 9 days after it had flown by the Earth. Named after the Greek god of medicine, Asclepius, was discovered by American astronomers Henry E. Holt and Norman G. Thomas.
    Nothing to Worry About
    Since 1989, several meteoroids and asteroids have buzzed past the Earth from a safe distance. Scientists and astronomers measure the probability of a celestial object colliding with the Earth on two different scales - the Torino Scale and the Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale. According to NASA, there are very few near-Earth objects that have the capacity to hit the Earth and create havoc in the near future.
    Space Rocks
    Asteroids are space rocks that are a by-product of the formation of the Solar System. Found mostly in the asteroid belt – the region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, these celestial objects contain minerals highly coveted by humans.
    How to Celebrate?
    This one's easy. Celebrate the day by celebrating life and all the second chances you have ever been given. Learn more about asteroids and other near-Earth objects. Did You Know...
    ...that asteroids may have killed the dinosaurs?
     
     
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    Just after my father, who was a career Air Force NCO, passed away, all my brothers and sisters returned home to be with Mom. As we reminisced about my dad, we found ourselves floating from sorrow to laughter as we brought up fond memories of our nomadic military lifestyle. One morning we were discussing what music should be played at the funeral and several hymns were suggested. "But, Mom," my older sister said, "since Daddy was in the Air Force, shouldn't we request the Air Force song?"
    "No, dear," my mother said with a smile. "We are not playing a song with the words 'Off we go into the wild blue yonder' at your father's funeral!"
     
    ***
     
    When the Second Division set up shop in South Korea, it did so with its slogan proudly displayed at the front gate: "Second to None." A few months later, a South Korean base opened two miles down the road.
    The sign greeting visitors read "You are now entering the famed sector of the South Korean ROK Division, better known as 'The None Division.' "
     
    ***
     
    Who says companies only care about the bottom line? Ours is socially conscious and offers employees fun outdoor activities throughout the complex.
    Both of these admirable elements were driven home one day when a voice over the loudspeaker boomed "Everyone who signed up to donate blood, please report to the rifle range!"
     
    ***
     
    Spanish never came easily to my sister. Still, she did her best to communicate with the Spanish-speaking staff at the restaurant she managed. But when she made mistakes—and she made a lot—she'd apologize by saying, "Me estúpido."
    Finally, a staffer took pity on her. "Susanna, you're not estúpido," she said, bucking up my sister's ego. "You are a woman," she continued. "So you are estúpida."
     
    ***
     
    Over the years, my husband and I have usually managed to decode the cute but confusing gender signs they sometimes put on restroom doors in restaurants (Buoys & Gulls, Laddies & Lassies, etc.), but every so often we get stumped. Recently my husband, Dave, wandered off in search of the men’s room and found himself confronted by two marked doors. One was labeled 'Bronco' and the other was designated 'Cactus.'

    Completely baffled, he stopped a restaurant employee passing by. "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom," Dave said. Gesturing toward the doors, he asked, "Which one should I use?"

    "Actually, we would prefer you to go there," the employee said, pointing to a door down the hall marked 'Men.' "Bronco and Cactus are private dining rooms."
     
     
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    Primordial Pouch (Cat Belly Flap) in Cats - Cat-World
     
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    How an "underwater waterfall" came to exist on Mauritius - Big Think
     
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    sandrewn
  22. sandrewn

    MDBCs 22 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 598
    March 22nd 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Bihar Day (Bihar, India) Christian feast day: Basil of Ancyra Blessed Clemens August Graf von Galen Darerca of Ireland Epaphroditus Jonathan Edwards (Lutheranism) Lea of Rome Nicholas Owen Paul of Narbonne March 22 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Earliest day on which Easter Sunday can fall (last in 1818, will not happen again until 2285), while April 25 is the latest. (Christianity) Emancipation Day or Día de la Abolición de la Esclavitud (Puerto Rico) World Water Day (International)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, week or month for details)
    National Goof Off Day
    American Red Cross Giving Day
    As Young As You Feel Day
    Bavarian Crepes Day
    Daffodil Day
    Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Army
    Gryffindor Pride Day
    International Day Of The Seal
    International Talk Like William Shatner Day
    National Donald Day
    Nauryz Day
    Nevruz Day
    Ougadi
    Talk Like William Shakespeare Day
    World Day of Metta
     
    Reese Witherspoon’s Birthday
    JJ Watt’s Birthday
     
    ~~~~~~
    Wed Mar 22nd, 2023 - Thu Apr 20th, 2023
    Ramadan
     
    Fun Observances
    International Goof Off Day
    March 22 is International Goof Off Day. The unofficial holiday encourages people to take the day to relax and do unproductive and useless things.

    Goofing off or to goof off is an expression popularly used in the United States.
    Neglecting Work
    The expression refers to the act of doing something that is unproductive while neglecting actual, important work. A goof off is a person who engages in such acts and ignores his or her duties and tasks.
    Careless Mistake
    The word goof can be used to refers to a careless mistake as well as someone who makes them.
    International Goof Off Day is also known as National Goof Off Day in the United States.
    Other goofy holidays include Fun at Work Day, Work Naked Day, and Wear Pajamas to Work Day.
    How to Celebrate?
    Goof the whole day off. Don't do anything that is productive or important. Spend the day online or even better switch off your computer and all your mobile devices and goof off in the outdoors. Did You Know…
    …that the world's most famous goofy comic character, Goofy was originally known as Dippy Dawg?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    'If I were to die first, would you remarry?" the wife asks.

    "Well," says the husband, "I'm in good health, so why not?"

    "Would she live in my house?"

    "It's all paid up, so yes."

    "Would she drive my car?"

    "It's new, so yes."

    "Would she use my golf clubs?"

    "No. She's left-handed."
     
    ***
     
    Lying on his deathbed, the rich, miserly old man calls to his long-suffering wife. "I want to take all my money with me," he tells her. "So promise me you'll put it in the casket."

    After the man dies, his widow attends the memorial service with her best friend. Just before the undertaker closes the coffin, she places a small metal box inside.

    Her friend looks at her in horror. "Surely," she says, "you didn't put the money in there."

    "I did promise him I would," the widow answers. "So I got it all together, deposited every penny in my account, and wrote him a check. If he can cash it, he can spend it."
     
    ***
     
    Interviewing a college applicant, the dean of admissions asks, "If you could have a conversation with someone, living or dead, who would it be?"

    The student thinks it over, then answers, "The living one."
     
    ***
     
    For a late snack, my sisters and I stopped at a diner. Walking in, we smelled cooking gas. When the waitress came to seat us, we urged her to tell someone so they could find the leak. She thanked us, saying she'd look into it right away.

    Then she asked us in her most pleasant waitress voice, "Will that be smoking or nonsmoking?"
     
     
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    sandrewn
  23. sandrewn

    MDBCs 21 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 597
    March 21st 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Arbor Day (Portugal) Birth of Benito Juárez, a Fiestas Patrias (Mexico) Christian feast day: Benedetta Cambiagio Frassinello Passing of Saint Benedict (Order of Saint Benedict, pre-1970 Calendar) Birillus Enda of Aran Nicholas of Flüe Serapion of Thmuis Thomas Cranmer (Anglicanism) March 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Education Freedom Day Harmony Day (Australia) Human Rights Day (South Africa) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Namibia from South African mandate in 1990 International Colour Day (International) International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (International) International Day of Forests (International), by proclamation of the United Nations General Assembly Mother's Day (most of the Arab world) National Tree Planting Day (Lesotho) Newroz (Iran, Kurdistan, Mesopotamia) Oltenia Day (Romania) Rosie the Riveter Day (United States) Truant's Day (Poland, Faroe Islands) Vernal equinox related observances (see March 20) World Down Syndrome Day (International) World Poetry Day (International) World Puppetry Day (International) Youth Day (Tunisia)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
     
    Afghanistan Day
     
    Angola Carnival Day
     
    Astrology Day
     
    Big Bang Day
    Credit Card Reduction Day
    International Race Relations Day
     
    March New Moon
    Memory Day
    National 3-D Day
    National Ag Day
     
    National Aries Day
     
    National Beverly Day
    National California Strawberry Day
    National Countdown Day
    National Crunchy Taco Day
    National Day Of Action On Syringe Exchange
    National Flower Day
    National Fragrance Day
    National French Bread Day
    National Healthy Fats Day
    National Peter Day
    National Renewable Energy Day
    National Single Parent Day
    National Teenager Day
    Naw-Ruz (Baha'i New Year)
    Nowruz Bayram
    Race Relations Day
    Slytherin Pride Day
    Spring Fairy Fun Day
    Tea for Two Tuesday
    The Big Walk and Wheel
    Twitter Day
    Vermouth Day
    WE Day
    World Forestry Day
    World Social Work Day
     
    Shannade Clermont’s Birthday
    TINI’s Birthday
    Jace Norman’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
     Common Courtesy Day
    March 21 is Common Courtesy Day, a day to practice common courtesy.

    The day is a reminder that our treatment of others speaks volumes about our character and our moral fiber.
    Culturally Dependent
    Common courtesy refers to basic practices and behaviors that are considered to be acceptable and appropriate in a given social and cultural setting. Because of this, it is possible that what is considered common courtesy in one society, may be considered rude and unacceptable in another.
    Thank You Is Universal
    Some common courtesies are still considered to be universal. These include: saying please and thank you when asking for a favor, maintaining hygiene standards, not making rude or obscene gestures, and respecting elders.
    In most societies, not only is a person judged by their behavior towards other people, he or she is also treated the same way as they treat others. In this way, the practice of common courtesy creates a tight-knit group, where every member follows the same practices and treats each other in the same way.
    Evolutionary Behavior
    Researchers have suggested that this need for group members to follow similar social and interpersonal etiquette serves an evolutionary purpose. People from other tribes and groups who follow different behavioral rules can be easily identified and denied in-group benefits.
    What Goes Around...
    People who are kind and polite tend to find themselves being treated in kind and with more friends and admirers. The bottom-line is: it pays to follow common courtesies. What goes around, comes around.
    How to Celebrate?
    While most people practice common courtesy every day, take this day to assess how you interact with others and perhaps change your behavior. Start with simple things like saying please and thank you and sorry when appropriate. Thank people who are courteous to you and appreciate them. Did You Know...
    ...that the term curtsey, meaning to bow down in front of someone as an act of respect, originated in the late 1600s in England?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    A motorist was driving in the country when he came upon a priest and a rabbi standing on the shoulder of the road, fishing. Next to them was a sign that read "Turn Around. The End Is Near."
    The motorist didn't like to be preached to, so he rolled down the window and yelled, "Mind your own business, you religious nuts!"
    A few seconds later the two fishermen heard tires screech, then a splash.
    The rabbi turned to the priest and said, "I told you we should've just written, 'Bridge Out.' "
     
    ***
     
    If you arrest a mime, do you still have to tell him he has the right to remain silent?
     
    ***
     
    Three vampires walk into a bar. "What can I get ya?" asks the bartender.

    "Blood," orders the first vampire.

    "Make it two," says the second.

    The bartender looks at the third. "What about you, buddy?"

    "Plasma," says the vampire.

    "Okay," replies the barman. "Let me make sure I've got this straight. Two bloods and a blood light."
     
    ***
     
    My husband was bending over to tie my three-year-old's shoes. That's when I noticed my son, Ben, staring at my husband's head.

    He gently touched the slightly thinning spot of hair and said in a concerned voice, "Daddy, you have a hole in your head. Does it hurt?"

    After a pause, I heard my husband's murmured reply: "Not physically."
     
     
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    sandrewn
  24. sandrewn

    MDBCs 20 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 596
    March 20th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Alexandra Blessed John of Parma Clement of Ireland Cuthbert of Lindisfarne Herbert of Derwentwater John of Nepomuk Józef Bilczewski María Josefa Sancho de Guerra Martin of Braga Michele Carcano Wulfram March 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Great American Meatout (United States) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Tunisia from France in 1956. International Day of Happiness (United Nations) International Francophonie Day (Organisation internationale de la Francophonie), and its related observances: UN French Language Day (United Nations) National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (United States) World Sparrow Day  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Ravioli Day
    Act Happy Day
    Bibliomania Day
    Benito Juarez Birthday Memorial
    Bock Beer Day
    Dogs in Yellow Day
    Extraterrestrial Abductions Day - 1
    Alien Abduction Day - 2
    Feast of Saint Joseph
    Great British Spring Clean Day
    Hufflepuff Pride Day
    Kiss Your Fiance Day
    Macaron Day
    March Equinox
    National Jump Out Day
    National Vanessa Day
    Snowman Burning Day
    Spring Begins
    Spring Equinox
    Wellderly Day
    Won't You Be My Neighbor Day
    World Behavior Analysis Day
    World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People
    World Flour Day
    World Frog Day
    World Oral Health Day
     
    Fred Rogers’s Birthday
    Barron Trump’s Birthday
     
    ~~~~~~
    Mon Mar 20th, 2023 - Sun Mar 26th, 2023
    National Introverts Week
     
    Fun Observances ( 2 )
    World Storytelling Day
    World Storytelling Day is celebrated globally every year on the March Equinox.

    The unofficial holiday celebrates the tradition of oral storytelling and encourages participants to tell and listen to stories from different cultures and in different languages.
    Started in Sweden
    Story Telling Day wasn’t always celebrated globally. The first such day was observed in Sweden in the early 1990s and was called Alla Berättares Dag, or All Narrators Day. Soon storytellers around the world picked up the holiday and it has now become a global “celebration of oral storytelling.” Each celebration since 2004 has a theme associated with it, including strong women, dreams, neighbors, water, and monsters and dragons.
    People can tap into historical and cultural stories and spread them globally or make up their own new stories.
    Celebration of Spring
    The March Equinox is known as the Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the Autumn Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. The day is considered by astronomers and people in many cultures in the Northern Hemisphere as the first day of spring.
    How to Celebrate?
    Participate in your local storytelling event. If there is none near you, maybe organize your own event? Have an older person tell you a story from their childhood. Encourage the children in your life to tell stories. Did You Know...
    ...that according to the Guinness Book of Records, A La Recherche du Temps Perdu by Marcel Proust is the longest novel ever written? First published in 1913, this 7 volume novel has a total of 9,609,000 characters.
    ~~~~~~~
     Proposal Day
    March 20 is Proposal Day, a day to pop the question and ask your significant other to marry you.

    The unofficial holiday encourages people to propose marriage to their significant others.
    Rings as a Symbol of Engagement
    In many cultures, a proposal for marriage is accompanied by an engagement ring. The ring is usually worn by the female partner for the time between the acceptance of the proposal and the wedding ceremony.
    Breaking Tradition
    Traditionally, it is the male partner who makes the proposal, but there are some countries where the woman can propose marriage to her sweetheart on a Leap Day. These days, however, these traditions are no longer set in stone and women as well as men can propose marriage to their significant others.
    A similar holiday, Propose Day, is sometimes celebrated on the day after Valentine’s Day.
    How to Celebrate?
    If you have a significant other who you would like to settle down with, take the plunge and ask them to marry you. If you don’t have a significant other yet, today is the day to start looking for one. Did You Know...
    ...that the ancient Romans were the first people who wore engagement rings as a way to signify that a person was no longer available for marriage?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    I was a percussion major when I was in college, and during a rehearsal of the student orchestra, my section kept making mistakes.
    "When you're too dumb to play anything," the professor conducting us sneered, "they give you a couple of sticks, put you in the back and call you a percussionist."
    A friend next to me whispered, "And if you're too dumb to hang on to both sticks, they put you in the front and call you a conductor."
     
    ***
     
    As he reviewed pilot crash reports, my Air Force military science professor stumbled upon this understated entry: "After catastrophic engine failure, I landed long. As I had no power, the landing gear failed to deploy and no braking was available. I bounced over the stone wall at the end of the runway, struck the trailer of a truck while crossing the perimeter road, crashed through the guardrail, grazed a large pine tree, ran over a tractor parked in the adjacent field, and hit another tree. Then I lost control."
     
    ***
     
    Officer candidate school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, was tough. During an inspection, a fellow soldier received 30 demerits for a single penny found within his area. Ten demerits were for "valuables insecure," ten because the penny wasn't shined, and ten because Abraham Lincoln needed a shave.
     
    ***
     
    My father’s secretary was visibly distraught one morning when she arrived at the office and explained that her children’s parrot had escaped from his cage and flown out an open window.
    Of all the dangers the tame bird would face outdoors alone, she seemed most concerned about what would happen if the bird started talking.
    Confused, my father asked what the parrot could say.
    “Well,” she explained,
    “he mostly says, ‘Here, kitty, kitty.’ ”
     
     
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    sandrewn
  25. sandrewn

    MDBCs 19 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 595
    March 19th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian Observances: Alkmund of Derby Saint Joseph (Western Christianity; if this date falls on Sunday, the feast is moved to Monday March 20) St Joseph's Day (Roman Catholicism and Anglican Communion) related observances: Falles, celebrated on the week leading to March 19 (Valencia) Father's Day (Spain, Portugal, Italy, Honduras, and Bolivia) "Return of the Swallow", annual observance of the swallows' return to Mission San Juan Capistrano in California March 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Earliest day on which Maundy Thursday can fall, while April 22 is the latest; celebrated on Thursday before Easter (Christianity) Minna Canth's Birthday and the Day of Equality (Finland) Kashubian Unity Day (Poland)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Poultry Day
    Red Nose Day
    Certified Nurses Day
    International Client's Day
    International Read To Me Day
    Mothering Sunday in the U.K.
    National Automatic Door Day
    National Backyard Day
    National Chocolate Caramel Day
    National Stretch Mark Day
    Operation Iraqi Freedom Day
    Pretzel Sunday
     
    Yung Gravy’s Birthday
    Gus Caleb Smyrnios’s Birthday
    Yandy Smith’s Birthday
    Bruce Willis’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
     Let's Laugh Day
    Let’s Laugh Day is celebrated every year on March 19. It is an unofficial holiday that encourages people to laugh and enjoy the benefits of laughter.

    Studies have suggested that laughter can help people relax and reduce stress. Laughing and being joyful can also have health and social benefits.
    Many Health Benefits
    Medical studies have shown a few minutes of laughter can reduce blood pressure, increase immunity response of the body, and boost heart rate. Watching or reading something humorous before sleep can also help people sleep better and longer.
    Laughing can even burn calories. Research has shown that 10-15 minutes of laughing can burn up to 50 calories.
    Friendly People
    People who laugh often are seen by their peers as happy and friendly. As a result, they tend to have more friends and are easily accepted as a part of different social groups.
    How to Celebrate?
    Here are some ways you can celebrate this happy “howl”iday:
    Laugh out loud for a few minutes. Spend some time reading jokes and funny stories. Watch a funny movie. Attend a stand-up comedy show. Did You Know…
    …that children laugh more than adults? An average toddler laughs about 400 times a day, while an average adult tends to laugh about 15-20 times a day.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Danny was hard to miss at our school. A Civil War buff who forever wore his Confederate overcoat, he was a friend to all. When he was passed over during the vote for senior superlatives, many of us were disappointed; surely there must have been some category suitable for him.

    The whole school was pleased, therefore, when the yearbook adviser surprised us with an additional photo. There was Danny, decked out in his gray coat, with the caption: "Most Likely to Secede."
     
    ***
     
    A Harley rider eating in a restaurant is checking out a gorgeous redhead. Suddenly she sneezes and her glass eye comes flying out of its socket. The biker reaches up, snatches it out of the air, and hands it back to her. "I am so embarrassed," the woman says. "Please join me for dinner."

    They enjoy a wonderful meal together and afterwards she invites him to the theater, followed by drinks. She pays for everything. Then she asks him to her place for a nightcap, and to stay for breakfast.

    The next morning the guy is amazed. "Are you this nice to every biker you meet?" he asks.

    "Not usually," she replies. "But you just happened to catch my eye."
     
    ***
     
    One of my friends is in charge of the part-time help hired by an old-age home run by an order of nuns. She confided to the mother superior, a feisty little nun of 70, that she always felt uncomfortable giving the young girls the obligatory lecture about the need to be careful around certain of the older male patients.

    The mother superior volunteered to give it for her, and eventually reduced my friend's 30 minutes of embarrassed rambling to a one-liner that has now become famous around the place. "Girls," she announced. "Just remember—old ain't dead."    
    ***
     
    My 35-year-old son and I had just finished our meal when I realized I’d left my wallet in my truck. As I headed out the door, I told the waitress what had happened.
    “But don’t worry,” I said with a grin. “I’m leaving my son for collateral.”
    She looked at him. He winked at her. She turned back to me.
    “What else you got?”
     
     
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    sandrewn
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