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sandrewn

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  1. 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
  2. sandrewn

    MDBCs 18 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 594
    March 18th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Anniversary of the Oil Expropriation (Mexico) Christian feast day: Alexander of Jerusalem Anselm of Lucca Cyril of Jerusalem Edward the Martyr Fridianus Salvator March 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Flag Day (Aruba) Gallipoli Memorial Day (Turkey) Men's and Soldiers' Day (Mongolia) National Day in Remembrance of COVID-19 Victims (Italy) Ordnance Factories' Day (India) Sheelah's Day (Ireland, Canada, Australia) Teacher's Day (Syria)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Biodiesel Day
    National Corn Dog Day
    Forgive Mom and Dad Day
    Global Recycling Day
    Goddess Of Fertility Day
    International Sports Car Racing Day
    Maple Syrup Saturday
    National Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day
    National Quilting Day
    National Sloppy Joe Day
    National Supreme Sacrifice Day
    Play the Recorder Day
    Save the Florida Panther Day
    Transit Driver Appreciation Day
    Companies That Care Day
     
    Adam Levine’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
     Awkward Moments Day
    On March 18, or Awkward Moments Day, celebrate (or forget) those awkward and embarrassing moments in our lives that may have made us want to hide.

    It may not be a coincidence that it falls the day after St. Patrick's Day, a day often associated in many parts of the world with alcohol and partying.
    The Day After
    While the purpose or origins of this unofficial holiday are unknown, it could be that the day was created to take stock of all the awkward moments after a few (or many) pints of Guinness drunk in celebration of the Irish cultural holiday.
    Funny Stories
    It could also be that the anonymous founders of the day wanted people to embrace all the awkward moments in their lives and laugh at them. After all, it is these moments that make the best stories and life lessons for the kids and the grandkids.
    How to Celebrate?
    We have all had awkward moments, but today is the day to laugh at them and to recognize that it is these moments that make for a memorable life. Share an awkward moment in your life with your family and friends in person or on a social media website. You can all laugh, and you may find out that you are not the only one with such awkward experiences. Did You Know…
    …that the first known use of the word embarrassed in the English language can be traced back to the diary of British parliamentarian Samuel Pepys in 1664?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Dad is from the old school, where you keep your money under the mattress—only he kept his in the underwear drawer. One day I bought my dad an unusual personal safe—a can of spray paint with a false bottom—so he could keep his money in the workshop. Later I asked Mom if he was using it.

    "Oh, yes," she replied, "he put his money in it the same day."

    "No burglar would think to look on the work shelf!" I gloated.

    "They won't have to," my mom replied. "He keeps the paint can in his underwear drawer."
     
    ***
     
    Sixteen years is a long time. That's how far the photo of my husband—looking slim and fit in his Marine Reserve uniform—goes back. Today, he's about 100 pounds heavier, so it was understandable when my friend's son asked who it was.
    "That's my father," my daughter told him.
    Looking at my husband, then at the photo, he asked, "Your first father?"
     
    ***
     
    A man was having a bad day and happened to rear-end the vehicle in front of him. Out jumped a dwarf, with arms akimbo, who proclaimed, "I'm NOT happy!!" 
    To which the man replied, "Well, which one are you, then?"
     
    ***
     
    Whenever my family leaves the house, our Shetland sheepdog's animal instincts start to kick in.
    He runs circles around us and nips at our heels to keep us all together.
    Watching this display, my friend couldn't resist: "You always herd the ones you love."
     
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    The only difference in my life when I’m on a diet is instead of saying, “I ate nachos,”
    I say, “I accidentally ate nachos.”
     
     
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    YES
     
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    " YUP "
     
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    " ME TOO "
     
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    sandrewn
  3. sandrewn

    MDBCs 17 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bead Crumbs 593
    March 17th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Children's Day (Bangladesh) Christian feast day: Alexius of Rome (Eastern Church) Gertrude of Nivelles John Sarkander Joseph of Arimathea (Western Church) Patrick of Ireland March 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Evacuation Day (Suffolk County, Massachusetts) Saint Patrick's Day, a public holiday in Ireland, Montserrat and the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, widely celebrated in the English-speaking world and to a lesser degree in other parts of the world.  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    Camp Fire Girls day
    Doctor Patient Trust Day
    Evacuation Day - 1
    Evacuation Day in Massachusetts - 2
    National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day
    National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence
    National Preschool Teacher Appreciation Day - 1
    National Preschool Teachers Appreciation Day - 2
    Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Day
    Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Birthday
    World Sleep Day
    Red Nose Day
     
    Tamar Braxton’s Birthday Nicky Jam’s Birthday
    Rob Lowe’s Birthday
    Hozier’s Birthday
    Kurt Russell’s Birthday
    Hannah Dasher’s Birthday
    Haley Cureton’s Birthday
    Grimes’s Birthday
    Dwight Eubanks’s Birthday
    Alev Aydin’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
     Submarine Day
    March 17 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?
    Cornelis Drebbel - Wikipedia
     
     
    ***
     
     
    While reviewing math symbols with my second-grade pupils, I drew a greater-than (>) and a less-than (<) sign on the chalkboard and asked, "Does anyone remember what these mean?"
    A few moments passed, and then a boy confidently raised his hand. "One means fast-forward," he exclaimed, "and the other means rewind!"
     
    ***
     
    After booking my 90-year-old mother on a flight from Florida to Nevada, I called the airline to go over her needs. The woman representative listened patiently as I requested a wheelchair and an attendant for my mother because of her arthritis and impaired vision. I also asked for a special meal and assistance in changing planes.

    My apprehension lightened a bit when the woman assured me everything would be taken care of. I thanked her profusely.

    "Why, you're welcome," she replied. I was about to hang up when she cheerfully asked, "And will your mother be needing a rental car?"
     
    ***
     
    My husband and I had been trying to have a third child for a while. Unfortunately, the day I was to take a home pregnancy test, he was called out of town on business. I had told our young daughters about the test, and they were excited. We decided if it was positive, we would buy a baby outfit to surprise their father when he got home. The three of us stood in the bathroom eagerly waiting for the telltale line to appear.

    When it did not, my thoughtful seven-year-old gave me a hug. "It's okay, Mom," she said. "The next time Daddy goes out of town, you can try and get pregnant again."
     
    ***
     
    A woman noticed her husband standing on the bathroom scale, sucking in his stomach.
    “Ha­­! That’s not going to help,” she said.
    “Sure, it does,” he said.
    “It’s the only way I can see the numbers.”
     
     
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    The Outrageous Length Of A Woodpecker's Tongue Reveals It To Be For Much More Than Taste Alone
     
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    Did You Know Houdini Taught US Troops How to Survive a Torpedoed Ship
     
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    sandrewn
  4. sandrewn

    MDBCs 16 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 592
    March 16th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Abbán Finian Lobhar (Finian the Leper) Heribert of Cologne Hilarius of Aquileia Julian of Antioch March 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of the Book Smugglers (Lithuania) Remembrance day of the Latvian legionnaires (Latvia) Saint Urho's Day (Finnish Americans and Finnish Canadians)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Panda Day
    Black Press Day
    Companies That Care Day
    Freedom of Information Day
    Lips Appreciation Day
    National Archer Day
    National Artichoke Day
    National Close the Gap Day
    National Curl Crush Day
    National Farm Rescuer Day
    National Vaccination Day
    No Selfies Day
    Orange And Lemons Day
    Robert Goddard Day
    Young Carers Action Day
     
    Luca Lombardo’s Birthday
    Danish Zehen’s Birthday
    Lauren Graham’s Birthday
    Boo the Pomeranian’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances (2)
     Absolutely Incredible Kid Day
    Honor all the incredible kids in your life on Absolutely Incredible Kids Day, a holiday celebrated every year on the third Thursday in March.

    The day inspires and encourages kids to do amazing things by letting them know how incredible they are.
    Let Them Know
    Created by Camp Fire, a multicultural and non-sectarian youth development organization, the unofficial holiday encourages parents and guardians to acknowledge and reward their children's achievements.
    Boosts Self-Esteem
    Researchers agree that encouragement from parents and family members can raise a young person's self-esteem and can help them become more responsible. Psychologists also warn that parents should not praise traits that the child cannot change. Instead, parents should reserve praise for efforts in areas that are in the control of the child, such as decision-making skills, behavior towards other people and animals, responsibility, and attitude.
    How to Celebrate?
    Camp Fire encourages people to send letters of encouragement to kids to let them know how important they are. Inspire the children in your life by telling them that they are awesome and that they can do incredible things. Did You Know...
    …that the trampoline and the earmuffs were invented by children?
    ~~~~~~~
     Every Thing You Do is Right Day
    Because every bad day is followed by a good day, March 16 is Everything You Do is Right Day.

    Everything You Do is Right Day is the opposite of Everything You Think is Wrong day, which is possibly one of the most dispiriting made-up holidays out there.
    Positivity
    It is an unofficial holiday that encourages people to believe that no matter what happened before today, everything they do on this day will turn out great.
    We all need positive reinforcements from time to time and what better way to bring positivity in our lives by celebrating this reaffirming holiday?
    How to Celebrate?
    Remember, everything you do today is the right thing to do. The bottom line is, do whatever makes you happy. Start the day right - with a healthy breakfast. It has long been known that a good breakfast not only has health benefits but can help people concentrate better on their work during the day. Spend time with happy, positive people. Psychologists and self-help pundits all agree that a person is as happy as the least happiest person around them. So, surrounding yourself with cheerful people means that some of their positivity will rub off on to you. Need to de-stress? Take this day to give yourself a much-needed pampering. Go to the spa, spend some time at the yoga studio, or just park yourself on the couch with a huge tub of ice cream and marathon your favorite show. If you know of someone who is having a bad day, brighten up their day and pay it forward. Did You Know...
    ...that ethics is a branch of philosophy that distinguishes between right and wrong?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Following months of marijuana drug busts, the DEA took the contraband into a remote region to burn. The fire was blazing brightly when an agent noticed that a flock of terns was flying around the area. Concerned about the effects of the smoke on the birds, they called the National Audubon Society.

    Their worst fears were confirmed. There was not one tern left unstoned.
     
    ***
     
    The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference was preparing to move from its longtime home in New York City to Mahwah, N.J. The day before the big move, the following sign appeared on the door:

    "Here today, gone to Mahwah."
     
    ***
     
    Stuck in rush-hour traffic, I couldn't help but stare when a burly biker wearing black leather jacket and chaps pulled up next to me on a shocking pink Harley Davidson. My first thoughts were, "Is that really a pink Harley? I wonder if he's…" Just then the traffic cleared and he pulled in front of me. On the back of his helmet were stenciled the words "Yes it is. No I'm not."
     
    ***


    In a lecture to a group of Korean officers, Lieut. Gen. Bruce C. Clarke, at that time deputy commander of the Eighth Army in Korea, took two or three minutes to tell his favorite joke. His interpreter then quickly translated the joke, using only seven or eight words. Everyone immediately burst into hearty laughter. After the lecture General Clarke asked the interpreter how he had been able to retell such a relatively long joke so quickly.

    "Well, sir," the Korean interpreter replied, "I didn't think everyone would get the point, so I said, 'The general has just told a joke. Everyone will please laugh.'"
     
    ***
     
    Why did the cowboy buy a dachshund?

    Someone told him to get a long little doggy.
     
    ***
     
    A young man asked for a job with the circus, any job at all. The manager decided to give him a chance to become an assistant lion tamer and took him to the practice cage.

    The head lion tamer, a beautiful young woman, was just starting her rehearsal. Entering the cage, she removed her cape with a flourish and, standing in a gorgeous costume, motioned to a lion. Obediently the lion crept towards her and then rolled over twice.

    "Well," said the manager to the young man, "do you think you can learn to do that?"

    "I'm sure I could," he replied, "but first you'll have to get that lion out of there."
     
    ***
     
    Two babies are sitting in their cribs, when one baby asks the other, “Are you a little girl or a little boy?”
    The other baby shrugs. “I don’t know how to tell the difference.”
    “I do,” says the first baby. He carefully climbs out of his crib and into the other crib, then disappears beneath the blankets.
    After a few 
seconds, he resurfaces. “You’re a little girl, and I’m a little boy,” he says.
    “How can you tell?”
    “Easy. You’ve got pink booties, and I’ve got blue ones.”
     
     
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    (I think I am at 10X)
     
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    ( No, it wasn't me! )
    The Lonely Tree of Ténéré • Damn Interesting
     
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    The Whisper of the Stars | Overlord In Terms of Core Issues Around Maximal Engagement with Key Notions of the Über-Feral
     
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    Jack Klobnak writes in: "I took this pix in the 1970's. It is on Choteau Ave. in St. Louis, which was famous in the early 20th Century for Brain Sandwiches (use a lot of mustard). It was not uncommon for dolts to be told to take a quarter down to Choteau to get some brains. Sadly, the building is no longer standing."
     
     
     
    sandrewn
    (every night is a surprise to me and hopefully entertaining for you)
  5. sandrewn

    MDBCs 15 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 591
    March 15th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Ancient Roman religious observance: Ides of March Christian feast day: Aristobulus of Britannia (Roman Catholic Church) Clement Mary Hofbauer Leocritia Saint Longinus Louise de Marillac March 15 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Constitution Day (Belarus) International Day To Combat Islamophobia Joseph Jenkins Roberts' Birthday (Liberia) National Day, celebrating the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 (Hungary) World Consumer Rights Day (International) Youth Day (Palau)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    Brutus Day
    Buzzards Day
    Dumbstruck Day
    Honen Matsuri
    International Day Against Police Brutality
    International Day of Action Against Canadian Seal Slaughter
    International Eat an Animal for PETA Day
    International Redefining Wealth Day
    National Peanut Lovers Day
    National Pears Helene Day
    National SBDC Day - 1
    Small Business Development Centers Day - 2
    National Shoe The World Day
    National VO Day
    Ramakrishna Jayanti
    True Confessions Day
    World Contact Day
    World Essential Workers Day
    World Speech Day
    National Napping Day
     
    will.i.am’s Birthday
    Saint Nicholas’s Birthday
    Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Birthday
    I Hate Everything’s Birthday
    Eva Longoria’s Birthday
    Alia Bhatt’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
     Everything You Think is Wrong Day
    March 15 is Everything You Think is Wrong Day.

    The unofficial holiday is a gentle reminder that we are all imperfect. It prompts us to accept that there are a lot of things we are wrong about and encourages us to spend some time correcting them.
    A Lot to Learn
    The world around us is complex. There are things that we don't know and there are things that we think are right, but are in fact wrong. These things could range from something as simple as a piece of trivia or something more complicated like our attitude towards others or our moral outlook.
    Everything You Think is Wrong Day is the perfect day to acknowledge that not everything you know or do is right and that you have a lot to learn about things around you.
    Not a Sign of Weakness
    However daunting and scary it may seem, accepting one's mistake should not be considered a sign of weakness. Studies have shown that people who accept their mistakes and treated with more respect than those who are hesitant to take responsibility for their actions. In fact, it is widely accepted that admitting mistakes and ignorance and making an attempt to fix things is the mark of a creative and successful person.
    Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
    While it is good practice to admit when one's wrong, it is also important to know that no one is perfect and that everyone makes mistakes. The bottom line is this: making mistakes is not the problem, not taking responsibility or making an effort to fix things is.
    And don't worry, if feeling like all you know is wrong becomes too overwhelming, there is hope yet - March 16 is in the Everything You Do is Right Day.
    How to Celebrate?
    Think over things that you think are wrong and spend some time correcting them. If you are ever told that something you have done or thought you know is wrong, be brave and let them know that you are willing to learn and fix your mistake. Not only will you gain the respect of your peers and loved ones, you will learn something new. Did You Know…
    …that wrong is also a legal concept? Legally, a wrong is an injury committed by one person on the person or property of another.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Some of my co-workers and I decided to remove the small, wooden suggestion box from our office because it had received so few entries. We stuck the box on top of a seven-foot-high metal storage cabinet and then promptly forgot about it. Months later, when the box was moved during remodeling, we found a single slip of paper inside. The suggestion read, "Lower the box!"
     
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    I was waiting to board a plane in Houston when a flight attendant stopped a woman in front of me to question her about the number of carry-on bags she had. The woman vehemently defended herself, claiming the extra bag was really her purse. It was the size of a large briefcase, but she insisted that it shouldn't count as a carry-on item. The flight attendant finally let the woman pass.

    As the next man stepped up, the flight attendant's gaze settled on his bags. Immediately, he held up his briefcase and exclaimed, "This is my wallet."
     
    ***
     
    Nancy was Catholic, but her fiancé, Chris, was not. Since my friends were planning to be married in the Catholic Church, Chris made sure to listen carefully throughout their prenuptial sessions. At one meeting the priest turned to Chris and told him, "Since you are not Catholic, we shall have the ceremony without Eucharist."

    Later that day, Chris was noticeably upset, so Nancy asked what was wrong. "I don't understand," he said. "How can we have the ceremony without me?"
     
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    I was really embarrassed when my wife caught me playing with my son’s train set by myself. In a moment of panic, I threw a bedsheet over it.
    I think I managed to cover my tracks.
     
     
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    sandrewn
  6. sandrewn

    MDBCs 14 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 590
    March 14th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Leobinus Matilda of Ringelheim March 14 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Constitution Day (Andorra) Heroes' Day (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) Mother Tongue Day (Estonia) Nanakshahi New Year, first day of the month of Chet (Sikhism) Summer Day (Albania) White Day on which men give gifts to women; complementary to Valentine's Day (Japan and other Asian nations)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Potato Chip Day
    Bake a Pie in Solidarity Day
    Celebrate Scientists Day
    Crowdfunding Day
    Dribble to Work Day
    Equal Pay Day
    Genius Day
    International Ask a Question Day
    International Day of Action For Rivers
    International Day of Mathematics
    Legal Assistance Day
    Legal Assistants Day
    National Children's Craft Day
    National Dog Theft Awareness Day
    National Learn About Butterflies Day
    National Organize Your Home Office Day
    National Save a Spider Day
    National Valerie Day
    National Write Your Story Day
    Science Education Day
    Moth-er Day
     
    Stephen Curry’s Birthday
    Sammi Giancola’s Birthday
    Kash Doll’s Birthday
    Dan Avidan’s Birthday
    CookieSwirlC’s Birthday
    Albert Einstein’s Birthday
     
    ~~~~~~
    Tue Mar 14th, 2023 - Mon Apr 3rd, 2023
    March Madness
     
    Fun Observances
     Pi Day
    March 14 is Pi Day. It is a day to celebrate the mathematical constant pi (π) and to eat lots of pie.

     
    It is celebrated in countries that follow the month/day (m/dd) date format, because the digits in the date, March 14 or 3/14, are the first three digits of π (3.14). Pi Day was founded by Physicist Larry Shaw in 1988.
    Pi Approximation Day
    Because everyone should be able to enjoy a fun mathematical holiday, people in countries that follow the day/month (dd/m) date format honor pi on Pi Approximation Day. The date of Pi Approximation Day - July 22 - when written in the day/month format or 22/7 corresponds to the fraction (22/7) that pi is usually depicted as.
    There are many other days during the year when one can honor pi. Some of these are:
    March 4: The day marks the passing of 14% of the 3rd month of the year. April 5: By this day, 3.14 months of the year have passed. November 10: The 314th day of the year (November 9 in leap years). An Irrational Number
    One of the oldest and the most recognized mathematical constant in the world, Pi (π) is the ratio of any circle’s circumference to its diameter. Its value is approximately equal to 3.14159265. It is an irrational number, which means it cannot be expressed as a ratio of whole numbers, and its decimal representation never ends or repeats.
    In recent years, mathematicians have called for replacing pi by tau (τ) as a way to describe the relationship between a circle’s circumference and its radius. In order to spread the word about the advantages of tau over pi, mathematicians around the world celebrate Tau Day on June 28.
    Other Mathematical Dates
    The Gregorian Calendar is full of dates that when written in a special manner represent a mathematical or scientific concept. Some of these include: Yellow Pig Day, Mole Day, Fibonacci Day, Palindrome Day, and e-Day. Use our Date Pattern Calculator to find out other interesting calendar dates during the year.
    How to Celebrate?
    Pi is a homophone of pie - the 2 words are pronounced similarly but are spelled differently and mean different things. Celebrate Pi Day by having lots and lots of pie. Have a pie baking contest. Ask participants to bake pi shaped pies. Combine it with a pie-eating competition. Have a pi recitation contest. Anyone who can recite the most digits of the constant gets to take home a pie. Embrace your geekness. Wear a t-shirt that has the numbers of pi on it or sport some pi shaped accessories. Earrings perhaps? Eat foods that start with a pi, like pineapples and pizza, or foods that are circular in shape, like pancakes and cookies. Watch the 1998 Darren Aronofsky movie, Pi. Did You Know
    ...that pi is represented by the lower case Greek letter, π, because it is the first letter of the Greek word περίμετρος, meaning perimeter?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    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.' "
     
    ***
     
    Driving with my two young boys to a funeral, I tried to prepare them by talking about burial and what we believe happens after death. The boys behaved well during the service. But at the grave site I discovered my explanations weren't as thorough as I'd thought.

    In a loud voice, my four-year-old asked, "Mom, what's in the box?"
     
    ***
     
    PULL. If that doesn't work, PUSH. If that doesn't work, we're closed. Come again.
     
    ***
     
    A livestock truck overturned in my town, and the accident made the local news. The young reporter who covered the story declared on camera, "Two cows, Black and Gus, escaped into nearby woods."

    At the studio there was muffled laughter as they cut to a commercial. After the break, the reporter sheepishly added, "About that overturned truck—make those Black Angus cattle."
     
    ***
     
    “Has your son decided what 
he wants to be when he grows up?” 
I asked my friend.
    “He wants to be a garbageman,” 
he replied.
    “That’s an unusual ambition to have at such a young age.”
    “Not really. He thinks that garbagemen work only on Tuesdays.”
     
     
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    sandrewn
  7. sandrewn

    MDBCs 13 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 589
    March 13th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast days: Ansovinus Gerald of Mayo James Theodore Holly (Episcopal Church (USA)) Nicephorus Roderick March 13 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Kasuga Matsuri (Kasuga Grand Shrine, Nara, Japan) National Elephant Day (Thailand) Africa Scout Day  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National K9 Veterans Day -1
    K-9 Veterans Day - 2
    Adelaide Cup
    Canberra Day
    Commonwealth Day
    Commonwealth Day in Canada  (God Save the King)
    Eight Hours Day
    International Every Girls Wins Day
    Ken Day
    L. Ron Hubbard Day
    National Coconut Torte Day
    National Earmuff Day
    National Good Samaritan Day
    National Open An Umbrella Indoors Day
    Smart and Sexy Day
    Fill Our Staplers Day
     
    Ozuna’s Birthday
    Kathy Hilton’s Birthday
    Kevin Samuels’s Birthday
    Common’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances (2)
    Jewel Day
    Celebrate all things shiny, blingy, and sparkly on March 13, or Jewel Day.

    Jewel is a term used to refer to gemstones - precious or semi-precious and natural or man-made - and for ornaments made from these gemstones. The word comes from the Medieval Latin word jocale meaning plaything or pastime.
    Coveted Throughout Human History
    Jewels and ornaments have been used by humans for functional and decorative purposes throughout history. In many societies in the past and present, jewelry is worn as a way of reflecting one's status in society.
    The origins of this unofficial holiday, which is also known as National Jewel Day in the United States, are unknown.
    How to Celebrate?
    Buy yourself that piece of jewelry that you have been eyeing forever. Exchange handmade jewelry with your friends. Use this day to take care of your jewels. Learn more about jewels from different cultures and historical time periods. Listen to the music of Jewel, the American singer-songwriter. Did You Know…
    …that the word diamond comes from the Greek word for invincible? Fitting, since diamond is one of the hardest substances known to man.
    ~~~~~~~
    Napping Day
    Napping Day is an unofficial holiday that falls on the Monday after DST begins in the United States.

    The day was created as a way to compensate for the hour people lose because of the time change. But this is one holiday that most people can get behind.
    Short Period of Sleep
    A nap is a short period of sleep usually taken during the day. Studies have shown that one or more short naps during the day can help increase productivity and alertness. It is believed that many successful people in history napped often. Some of these people were Einstein, Winston Churchill, and Napoleon.
    Many Short Naps a Day
    Many animals are polyphasic sleepers. This means that they take multiple naps during the day. Until the invention of electricity and affordable artificial lighting, humans slept in at least two long stretches during the night. They first slept for about 4 hours, called first sleep. They then woke up for a few hours during which they smoked, visited their friends, and ran other errands. They would then go back to sleep for what is now called the second sleep. This pattern of sleeping went out of fashion by the 17th century, as more and more people began to afford ways to artificially light up their homes after dark and in the early mornings.
    How to Celebrate?
    Take a short nap. If your country does not observe DST, then follow the DST and Napping day schedule of another country. Why lose out on a holiday just because your country doesn’t have DST? Did You Know…
    …that a NASA study among pilots and astronauts found that short naps can increase performance by 34% and alertness by 54%?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Some years ago, my dad, an attorney, took me to a fancy restaurant in New York City. When the bill arrived, there was a $1.50 charge for bread and butter. Dad paid the bill, including the charge for bread and butter. However, the next day, he sent a letter to the restaurant stating that the charge was uncalled for. Enclosed in the same envelope was a bill for $500 in legal services.

    Someone from the restaurant called immediately and asked, "What is this $500 bill for? We never ordered any legal services."

    Dad replied, "I never ordered any bread and butter."

    The $1.50 was returned without delay.
     
    ***
     
    While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl about six years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, "Are you a cop?"

    "Yes," I answered, and continued writing the report.

    "My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right?"

    "Yes, that's right," I told her.

    "Well, then," she said as she extended her foot toward me, "would you please tie my shoe?"
     
    ***
     
    Taking advantage of a balmy day in New York, my brother and three other priests swapped their clerical garb for polos and khakis and time on the golf course. After several horrible shots, their caddy asked, "Are you guys priests?"

    "Actually, yes," one cleric replied. "Why?"

    "Because," said the caddy, "I've never seen such bad golf and heard such clean language."
     
    ***
     
    My five-year-old, Matt, worked with a speech therapist on the ch sound, which came out k.
    The 
therapist asked him to say chicken. He responded with kitchen. They tried again and again, but it always came out kitchen. Undeterred, she pushed him for one more try.
    Matt sighed and said,
    “Why don’t we 
just call it a duck?”
     
     
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    sandrewn
  8. sandrewn

    MDBCs 12 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 588
    March 12th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Arbor Day (China) Arbor Day (Taiwan) Aztec New Year Christian feast day: Alphege Bernard of Carinola (or of Capua) Gorgonius, Peter Cubicularius and Dorotheus of Nicomedia Mura (McFeredach) Fina Maximilian of Tebessa Paul Aurelian Pope Gregory I (Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Catholic Church, and Anglican Communion) Theophanes the Confessor March 12 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) National Day (Mauritius) World Day Against Cyber Censorship Youth Day (Zambia)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Girl Scout Day
    Check Your Batteries Day
    Daylight Saving Time Starts
    IUGR Awareness Day
    National Baked Scallops Day
    National Christian Day
    National Plant a Flower Day
    National Ruth Day
    National Working Mom's day
    World Glaucoma Day
    National Dry Shampoo Day
     
    Liza Minnelli’s Birthday
     
    ~~~~~~
    Sun Mar12th, 2023 - Sat Mar 18th, 2023
    Universal Women’s Week
    Sleep Awareness Week
    Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week
     
    Fun Observances
     Alfred Hitchcock Day
    March 12 is National Alfred Hitchcock Day, a day to celebrate the life, times, and work of master filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock.

    It is not known why this date was chosen to commemorate Hitchcock, since it does not correspond to his birthday or the day he died.
    A Long Career
    Alfred Hitchcock's prolific film-making career spanned over half a century - he began making movies in 1921 and made his last film, Family Plot, in 1976. His unique cinematic style in the genre of psychological thrillers and suspense movies earned him the title of Master of Suspense.
    In addition to making movies, Hitchcock created and hosted a television series called Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
    How to Celebrate
    Gather your friends and do a Hitchcock movie marathon. Some of his more famous movies include Psycho, Vertigo, and The Birds. One of the unique things about Hitchcock's movies is that he played a cameo role in most of them. So, while watching doing a Hitchcock movie marathon, play the spot-Hitchcock’s-cameo game. Whoever spots the most cameos wins. Host an Alfred Hitchcock-themed party. Decorate your venue with birds related props. Serve your guests pecan pie (from Marnie), Moroccan tagine (from The Man Who Knew Too Much), and Chicken (from Notorious). Screen Murder Party, an episode from Alfred Hitchcock Presents for your guests. Did You Know…
    …that Alfred Hitchcock never won an Oscar in the Best Director category?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    In Nevada, my husband and I attended the wedding of a man and woman of different faiths. A Protestant minister and a Catholic priest performed an ecumenical marriage ceremony. In unison they proclaimed the couple husband and wife.

    Afterward, a man was overheard congratulating the father of the bride. “Fifty years ago this could not have happened.”

    “No,” replied the father. “Religion has come a long way.”

    “Religion! Who’s talking about religion? I mean a cattleman’s daughter marrying a sheepman’s son.”
     
    ***
     
    Serving as a Marine recruiter in western North Carolina, I found a young man who met all the requirements and was ready to enlist. I explained the importance of being truthful on the application, and he began filling out his paperwork. But when he got to the question "Do you own any foreign property or have any foreign financial interests?" he looked up at me with a worried expression.   "Well," he confessed, "I do own a Toyota."   We enlisted him the next day.   ***
     
    After practicing law for several months, I was talking with my brother, John, a doctor. "My work is so exciting," I said. "People come into my office, tell me their problems and pay me for my advice."

    As older brothers will, John took the upper hand. "You know," he said, "in my work, people come into my office, tell me their problems, take off all their clothes and then pay me for my advice."
     
    ***
     
    To resolve conflicts between management and staff, I brought both sides together and asked employees to jot down key words on a flip chart.
    One participant complained about management’s tendency to interfere and wrote the word nitpicking.
    A manager leaped to his feet to ask, “Shouldn’t there be a hyphen between nit and picking?”
     
     
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    sandrewn
  9. sandrewn

    MDBCs 11 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 587
    March 11th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Alberta of Agen Constantine Óengus of Tallaght Sophronius of Jerusalem Vindicianus Day of Restoration of Independence from the Soviet Union in 1990 (Lithuania) Moshoeshoe Day (Lesotho)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National No-Code Day
    National Promposal Day
    311 Day
    Debunking Day
    Genealogy Day
    International Fanny Pack Day
    Key Deer Awareness Day
    National COVID-19 Day
    National Dream Day
    National Funeral Director and Mortician Recognition Day
    National Johnny Appleseed Day
    National Payton Slaymaker Day
    National Sofrito Day
    National Urban Ballroom Dancing Day
    Wash Your Nose Day
    World Day of Muslim Culture Peace Dialogue and Film
    World Plumbing Day
    Worship of Tools Day
    National No Smoking Day
     
    Dionte Gray’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
     Oatmeal Nut Waffle Day
    March 11 is Oatmeal Nut Waffle Day. It is a day to treat yourself to not just waffles, but the healthier version of the popular breakfast food.

    Oatmeal nut waffles are made by adding quick cooking oats and different types of nuts to the regular waffle batter of flour, eggs, and butter. They can be eaten the same way as waffles - as is or with different toppings like fruit, yogurt, whipped cream, or jelly or jam.
    Wholesome and Nutritious
    Oatmeal nut waffles not only easy to make, but are also more wholesome and nutritious than regular waffles due to the addition of oats and nuts.
    Oats are cereal grains that are high in proteins, minerals, and fiber. Studies have shown that regular consumption of oats can reduce bad cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancers.
    Medieval Origins
    Now enjoyed by people around the world as a dessert or breakfast dish, waffles are thought to have originated in Europe during the Middle Ages. The original waffles were made for religious purposes, usually from some form of grain and water, and frequently depicted religious symbols and patterns.
    Waffle Day
    Waffles are celebrated on two other days during the year - March 25 and August 24. The August 24 Waffle Day commemorates the day in 1869 when the first waffle iron was patented in the United States.
    How to Celebrate?
    With lots of oatmeal nut waffles! Add an assortment of nuts - pecans, cashews, almonds, and walnuts. What about adding some raisins or dates to the mix? Experiment with toppings. Make savory oatmeal nut waffles instead of sweet waffles. Serve the waffles with cream cheese, sour cream, or vegetables. Did You Know...
    ...that in North America, the word waffle can also mean to change one's mind frequently? In the United Kingdom, it is usually used to refer to conversations about trivial matters.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    A man left Chicago for a vacation in Key West. His wife was on a business trip and planned to fly down to meet him the next day. When the man arrived in Florida, he e-mailed his wife to let her know he had arrived, but mistyped her address.

    Instead, his message went to the inbox of a woman whose husband had just passed away. When the grieving widow opened her e-mail, she read the message, screamed, and passed out cold.

    The woman's daughter rushed into the room and found this note on the computer screen. "My darling wife: Just checked in. Everything is prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to being with you again. Your loving husband. P.S. Sure is hot down here!"
     
    ***
     
    Two priests died at the same time and met St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. "Our computer's down," said St. Peter. "You'll have to go back for a week, but you can't go back as priests. What'll it be?"

    The first priest said, "I've always wanted to be an eagle, soaring above the Rocky Mountains."

    "So be it," said St. Peter, and off flew the first priest.

    The second priest thought for a moment and asked, "Will any of this week count?"

    "No," said St. Peter.

    "Well," the priest said, "I've always wanted to be a stud."

    "So be it," said St. Peter. A week later, the computer was fixed, and the Lord told St. Peter to recall the two priests. "Will you have any trouble locating them?" he asked.

    "The first one should be easy," said St. Peter. "He's somewhere over the Rockies, flying with the eagles. But the second one could prove more difficult."

    "Why?" asked the Lord.

    "He's on a snow tire somewhere in northern Ontario," said St. Peter.
     
    ***
     
    Jake, Johnny, and Billy died and went to heaven. "Welcome," St. Peter said. "You'll be very happy here if you just obey our rule: Never step on a duck. If you step on a duck, the duck quacks, they all start quacking and it makes a terrible racket."

    That sounded simple enough until they passed through the Pearly Gates and found thousands of ducks everywhere. Jake stepped on one right away. The ducks quacked, making an unholy racket, and St. Peter came up to Jake bringing with him a ferocious-looking Amazon woman.

    "I warned you if you broke the rule you'd be punished," St. Peter said. Then he chained the Amazon woman to Jake for eternity.

    Several hours later, Johnny stepped on a duck. The duck quacked, they all quacked, and St. Peter stepped up to Johnny with an angry-looking, shrewish woman. "As your punishment," St. Peter told Johnny, "you'll be chained to this woman for eternity."

    Billy was extremely careful not to step on a duck. Several months went by. Then St. Peter came up to him with a gorgeous blonde and chained her to Billy, uniting them for all time. "Wow!" exclaimed Billy. "I wonder what I did to deserve this?"

    "I don't know about you," said the beautiful woman, "but I stepped on a duck."
     
    ***
     
    How do mathematicians scold their children?
    “If I’ve told you n times, I’ve told you n+1 times…”
     
     
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    sandrewn
  10. sandrewn

    MDBCs 10 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 586
    March 10th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day Attala Harriet Tubman (Lutheran) John Ogilvie Macarius of Jerusalem Marie-Eugénie de Jésus Pope Simplicius Sojourner Truth (Lutheran) March 10 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Harriet Tubman Day (United States of America) Holocaust Remembrance Day (Bulgaria) Men's Day (Poland) National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (United States) Székely Freedom Day (Romania) Tibetan Uprising Day (Tibetan independence movement)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
     
    National Freelancers Day
    National Pack Your Lunch Day
    Festival Of Life In Cracks Day
    Histotechnology Professionals Day
    International Bagpipe Day
    International Day of Awesomeness
    International Day of Women Judges
     
    International Wig Day
    Middle Name Pride Day
    National Blueberry Popover Day
    National Drake Day
    National Dry Shampoo Day
    National Landline Telephone Day
    National Peel Day
    National Preschooler's Day
    National Ranch Day
    National Sending Day
    Paper Money Day
    Salvation Army Day
    Skirt Day
     
    Keke Wyatt’s Birthday
    Sharon Stone’s Birthday
    Def Noodles’s Birthday
    Chuck Norris’s Birthday
    Chad Wild Clay’s Birthday
    Carrie Underwood’s Birthday
    Bad Bunny’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
     Mario Day
    March 10 is Mario Day, a day to celebrate the main character of the popular Nintendo video game franchise, Super Mario.

    March 10 was chosen by fans of the game as the date for this holiday because March 10 when abbreviated and written without a space between the month and date – Mar10 – looks like the word Mario.
    Fictional Italian Plumber
    The Super Mario video games follows the adventures of Italian plumber Mario and his brother Luigi while they try to rescue Princess Peach from the evil Bowser. Princess Peach is the princess of the fictional Mushroom Kingdom in which the game is set.
    Best-Selling Game
    Considered to be the best-selling video game of all time and one of the most recognizable video game characters in the world, Mario was created by Shigeru Miyamoto. Since his first appearance in the 1981 Nintendo game, Donkey Kong as Jumpman, Mario has featured in over 200 video games, and several television shows and comics.
    How to Celebrate?
    Spend the day playing the iconic game. Have a super Mario themed party. Serve star shaped cookies , mushroom shaped cupcakes, and chocolate coins. And if you are brave enough, why not dress up like Mario for the day? Did You Know…
    …that when Mario made his first gaming appearance as Jumpman, he was not a plumber but a carpenter?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    As an attorney in a major New Mexico law firm, I have many colleagues who work long hours. However, the reputation of one of my partners' workaholic ways even extended beyond the office. He not only had to leave work early one day because of a medical problem, but was also told by his doctor to stay home until the end of the week. My colleague grudgingly agreed to comply.

    In the middle of the week, our receptionist received a call for him. She announced that the partner was out of the office until Friday. "Good," the caller said. "That's all I wanted to know."

    It was my partner's doctor.
     
    ***
     
    When I walked into a small café in rural Minnesota, I had no trouble distinguishing the nonsmoking area from the smoking area. There before me were two neatly printed signs: "Coffee Corner" and "Coughy Corner."
     
    ***
     
    One day at the office of the orthopedic specialist I work for, we had to make arrangements for an elderly patient with spinal arthritis to have a special injection. We said we would phone him with the information.

    Two days later, the patient called us, concerned that he had missed our call because of his poor hearing. "I can barely hear, barely see and barely walk," he told me.

    Then he added cheerfully, "Things could be worse, though. At least I can still drive."
     
    ***
     
    Our family took shelter in the basement after hearing a tornado warning. My husband told everyone to stay put while he got his cell phone out of the car, in case the lines went dead.

    He didn't return for the longest time, so I went looking for him. I was upstairs calling his name, when I heard our phone machine click on.

    "Hi," a voice said. "This is Dad. I'm locked out of the house."
     
     
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    The Beagle Didn't Die
     
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    Star Trek: Every Role Played by Clint Howard, From TOS to Discovery
    Clint Howard - Wikipedia
     
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    sandrewn
    B.T.W. Did you know that Clint Howard is Ron Howard's brother!!!
  11. sandrewn

    MDBCs 09 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 585
    March 9th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Catherine of Bologna Forty Martyrs of Sebaste Frances of Rome Pacian Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria (Coptic Orthodox Church) Gregory of Nyssa (Episcopal Church (United States)) March 9 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Teachers' Day or Eid Al Moalim (Lebanon)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Barbie Day
    Amerigo Vespucci Day
    Bang Clang Day
    International School Meals Day
    Joe Franklin Day
    March Full Moon
    Nametag Day
    National American Paddlefish Day
    National Crab Meat Day
    National Dish Washer Appreciation Day
    National False Teeth Day
    National Get Over It Day
    National Heroes and Benefactors Day
    National Lina Day
    National Marcia Day
    National Meatball Day
    National Shane Day
    Popcorn Lover's Day
    World Kidney Day
    Panic Day
     
    Suga’s Birthday
    Somi’s Birthday
    India Royale’s Birthday
    Matthew Gray Gubler’s Birthday
    Bow Wow’s Birthday
     
     
    ***
     
     
    As a dentist, I recently tried out a new chocolate-flavored pumice paste on my patients. No one liked it except for a six-year-old boy. While I polished his teeth, he continued to smile and lick his lips. "You must really like this new flavor," I said.

    "Yep," he replied, nodding with satisfaction. "It tastes just like the time I dropped my candy bar in the sandbox."
     
    ***
     
    I think my wife's going deaf," Joe told their doctor.

    "Try to test her hearing at home and let me know how severe her problem is before you bring her in for treatment," the doctor said.

    So that evening, when his wife was preparing dinner, Joe stood 15 feet behind her and said, "What's for dinner, honey?"

    No response.

    He moved to ten feet behind her and asked again.

    No response.

    Then he stood five feet in back of her and tried again but still got no answer. Finally, he stood directly behind her and asked, "Honey, what's for supper?"

    She turned around. "For the fourth time—I said chicken!"
     
    ***
     
    Bob, age 92, and Mary, age 89, are all excited about their decision to get married. While out for a stroll to discuss the wedding they pass a drugstore. Bob suggests they go in.
    Bob asks to speak to the pharmacist. He explains they're about to get married, and asks, "Do you sell heart medication?"
    "Of course we do," the pharmacist replies.
    "Medicine for rheumatism?"
    "Definitely," he says.
    "How about Viagra?"
    "Of course."
    "Medicine for memory problems, arthritis, jaundice?"
    "Yes, the works."
    "What about vitamins, sleeping pills, Geritol, antacids?"
     "Absolutely."
    "Do you sell wheelchairs and walkers?"
    "All speeds and sizes."
    "Good," Bob says to the pharmacist. "We'd like to register for our wedding gifts here, please."
     
    ***
     
    When my Dad got out of the Army, a friend gave him a job as a “diesel fitter” at his ladies’ undergarments factory.
    On Dad’s first day, the friend took him to the production line where he would be working.
    The friend explained that as a diesel fitter, my dad’s responsibility would be to pick up each garment as it came off the line, look it over, and then hold it up and announce, “Yep, deez’ll fit ’er!”
    At least, that’s the story my dad told a thousand times.
     
     
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    ( R. I. P. )
     
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    sandrewn
  12. sandrewn

    MDBCs 08 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 584
    March 8th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Edward King (Church of England) Felix of Burgundy John of God Philemon the actor March 8 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) International Women's Day, and its related observances: International Women's Collaboration Brew Day  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    Be Nasty Day
    Discover What Your Name Means Day
    Learn What Your Name Means Day
    Fill Our Staplers Day
    Holi
    Nari Dibas
    National August Day
    National No Smoking Day
    National Oregon Day
    National Peanut Cluster Day
    National Retro Video Game Day
    Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day
    United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace
    World Maths Day
     
    Fun Observances
      Proofreading Day
    March 8 is Proofreading Day. The day promotes error-free communication and encourages everyone to spend some time updating and expanding his or her proofreading skills.

    Proofreading is a careful examination and reading of any written text to spot spelling, grammatical, stylistic, and punctuation errors before its publication.
    Proofreading or Copy Editing
    While often confused with copy editing, proofreading does not usually include editorial revision. Unlike copy editors, who may receive copies or versions of the text throughout the writing or editing process, proofreaders only get to the see the final proof right before publication.
    The job of the proofreader is to go carefully through documents and spot formatting and typography errors in the text. In contrast to a copy editor, who can fine-tune the text themselves after spotting errors, a proofreader is expected to send the text back to the writer or the editor for making corrections.
    Proofreading and Technology
    In recent years, with the emergence of word processing and typesetting software, the proofreading profession has undergone a sea change. Today, proofreaders do not need to use old-fashioned symbols to indicate errors - they can highlight errors right within the electronic text. New proofreading software has also cut down the time a proofreader needs to spend on a text.
    How to Celebrate?
    Celebrate Proofreading Day by combing through all your writings carefully and spotting mistakes and correcting them. It is only human to make mistakes, but it is also human to correct them. Find ways to enhance your communication – proofread your emails and even phone texts and SMSs. Spend some time learning the tools of effective and efficient proofreading. Did You Know…
    …that a 1631 reprint of the King James Bible was called the Wicked Bible because of a proofreading error? The commandment “Thou shalt not commit adultery” was mistakenly printed as “Thou shalt commit adultery.”
     
     
    ***
     
     
    When my wife was about to have our first baby, we brought a tape recorder to the delivery ward to capture the sounds of the birth, the baby's first cry and our doctor's voice saying, "It's a boy!" or "It's a girl!" We intended to use the tape as a fun message on our answering machine to help announce the birth to friends and relatives.

    My wife's labor went relatively smoothly and, when it seemed appropriate, I inserted the blank tape and began recording. Shortly thereafter, our baby was born and we all heard the first cry.
    The doctor held up the baby and, with tape rolling, loudly proclaimed, "Wow, will you look at the scrotum on him!"
     
    ***
     
    My son is an avid listener to our city’s police frequency, and he leaves the scanner on all the time. One morning while making his bed, I heard the dispatcher say, “Car 34, there is a five-foot boa constrictor in a front yard. The resident wants a policeman to come and remove it.”

    There was a long pause, then some static. Slowly, a voice said, “We can’t get the car started.”
     
    ***
     
    According to the Internet: The inscription on the metal bands used by the U. S. Department of the Interior to tag migratory birds has been changed. The bands used to bear the address of the Washington Biological Survey, abbreviated as “Wash. Biol. Surv.”—until the agency received the following letter from an unhappy camper: “Dear Sirs: While camping last week, I shot one of your birds. I think it was a crow. I followed the cooking instructions on the leg tag and want to tell you it tasted horrible.”

    The bands are now marked “Fish & Wildlife Service.”
     
    ***
     
    Me: What’s the Wi-Fi password?
    Bartender: You need to buy a drink first.
    Me: OK, I’ll have a Coke.
    Bartender: Three dollars.
    Me: There you go. So what’s the Wi‑Fi password?
    Bartender: “You need to buy a drink first.” No spaces, all lowercase.
     
     
    ***
     
     

    The photo is just a graphical recreation of what the passport would've looked like, created first by Heritage Daily, since access to the actual passport’s images haven't been made public. 
    Ramses II's Egyptian Mummy Was Issued A Passport 3000 Years After His Death
     
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    sandrewn
  13. sandrewn

    MDBCs 07 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 583
    March 7th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day:
    Blessed Leonid Feodorov (Russian Greek Catholic Church) Perpetua and Felicity Siméon-François Berneux (part of The Korean Martyrs) March 7 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Be Heard Day
    National Cereal Day
    Dolyatra
    Erev Purim
    Holi Guyana
    Holika Dahana
    Jose Abad Santos Day
    Lailatul Barat Starts
    National Ben Day
    National Carol Day
    National Cooper Day
    National Crown Roast of Pork Day
    National Flapjack Day
    National Library Workers Day
    National Sharon Day
    National Sportsmanship Day
    National Teresa Day
    National Town Meeting Day
    Plant Power Day
    Sock Monkey Day
    Suriname Phagwah
    Unique Names Day
     
    Fun Observances
     Alexander Graham Bell Day
    Alexander Graham Bell Day is celebrated every year on March 7.

    The unofficial holiday recognizes the day in 1876 when Alexander Graham Bell was granted a patent for the technology that would later become the telephone and changed the world of communications.
    Patent Date
    On March 7, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell was granted a patent for “transmitting vocal or other sounds telegraphically.” Three days later, on March 10, Bell uttered the famous words "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you" into a transmitter. His assistant, Thomas Watson, who was in the next room, heard the words clearly and thus, the first telephone was created.
    In commemoration of the day he was granted the patent, Bell’s fans around the world celebrate March 7 as Alexander Graham Bell Day. It is a day recognized by an official act of the legislature in Nova Scotia, Canada.
    Prolific Inventor
    In addition to the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell is also credited with being the inventor of the metal detector and he is known for developing the Hydrodrome, a watercraft that set a world marine speed record in 1919.
    How to Celebrate?
    Learn more about the science and technology behind the telephone and the cell phone. Visit your local telecommunications museum. Every time you call a friend or text someone send a silent thank you to Bell. Without him, we would still be using pigeons to send messages. Did You Know…
    …that Bell was one of the founding members of the National Geographic Society?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Carol was pregnant with her first child, and her husband was about to leave on a two-week business trip. When Carol went to her doctor appointment, she had some questions.

    "My husband wants me to ask you something—" Carol began.

    The doctor interrupted her. "I get asked that question all the time," he said in a reassuring tone. "Sex is fine until late in the pregnancy."

    "No, that's not it!" an embarrassed Carol confessed. "My husband wants to know if I can still mow the lawn."
     
    ***
     
    Needing to shed a few pounds, my husband and I went on a diet that had specific recipes for each meal of the day. I followed the instructions closely, dividing the finished recipe in half for our individual plates. We felt terrific and thought the diet was wonderful—we never felt hungry!

    But when we realized we were gaining weight, not losing it, I checked the recipes again. There, in fine print, was "Serves 6."
     
    ***
     
    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.”
     
    ***
     
    Thinking no one could hear me as I loaded a UPS tractor trailer, I began to whistle. I was really getting into it when a coworker in the next trailer poked his head in.
    “You know, I always used to wish I could whistle,” he said.
    “Now I just wish you could.”
     
     
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    sandrewn
  14. sandrewn

    MDBCs 06 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 582
    March 6th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Chrodegang Colette of Corbie Fridolin of Säckingen Kyneburga, Kyneswide and Tibba Marcian of Tortona March 6 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) European Day of the Righteous, commemorates those who have stood up against crimes against humanity and totalitarianism with their own moral responsibility. (Europe) Foundation Day (Norfolk Island), the founding of Norfolk Island in 1788. Independence Day (Ghana), celebrates the independence of Ghana from the UK in 1957.  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Dentist's Day - 1
    Dentist Day - 2
    National Dress Day
    National Frozen Food Day
    National Oreo Cookie Day
    Purim
    Alamo Day
    Casimir Pulaski Day
    Day of Memorial And Respect For Veterans
    Day of the Dude
    Fast of Esther
    Fun Facts About Names Day
    Guam Discovery Day
    Guam History And Chamorro Heritage Day
    Iraq Day Of Tolerance And Coexistence
    Makha Bucha
    National Brian Day
    National Damien Day
    National Ford Day
    National Heroes and Benefactors Day
    National Report General Service Administration (GSA) Fraud Day
    National Shirley Day
    National White Chocolate Cheesecake Day
    No Homework Day
    World Tennis Day
    Hospitality Workers in HealthCare Day
     
    Tyler1’s Birthday
    Tyler The Creator’s Birthday
    Shaquille O'Neal’s Birthday
    Jacob Bertrand’s Birthday
    Harriet Tubman’s Birthday
    Biannca Prince’s Birthday
     
    ~~~~~~
    Mon Mar 6th, 2023 - Fri Mar 10th, 2023
    School Breakfast Week
    Mon Mar 6th, 2023 - Sun Mar 12th, 2023
    Butchers’ Week
    British Pie Week
    Women in Construction Week
    National Procrastination Week
     
     
    ***
     
     
    While I was serving as a juror, I chanced to share the elevator one morning with a visiting judge. He asked me where the jurors parked, and I informed him that we had our own lot several blocks away.

    Then it occurred to me that he might be having a problem finding a place for his car, so I continued, "but, Your Honor, they have a special place reserved for judges down below."

    "Yes," he said dryly, "I'm sure they do."     ***
     
    Phil was driving down a country road late one night when he felt a big thud. He got out of the car and looked around, but the road was empty. Since there was nothing else to be done, Phil drove on home. In the morning the sheriff was standing at his doorstep.
    "You're under arrest for hitting a pig and leaving the scene," the lawman told him with a frown. "Please come with me."
    Phil couldn't believe his ears. "But how could you possibly know that's what happened?" he asked.
    "It wasn't hard," the sheriff replied. "The pig squealed."
     
    ***
     
    One afternoon I was walking on a trail with my newborn daughter, chatting to her about the scenery. When a man and his dog approached, I leaned into the baby carriage and said, "See the doggy?"

    Suddenly I felt a little silly talking to my baby as if she understood me.
    But just as the man passed, I noticed he reached down, patted his dog and said, "See the baby?"
     
    ***
     
    My Dad's favorite joke is indelible:
    Joe is a new man on a construction crew. The first day on the job, he opens his lunch box and mumbles, “Oh no, peanut butter!”
    The next day, “Peanut butter again!”
    This goes on for days, until another worker says, “Why don’t you ask your wife to make a different lunch?”
    Joe replies, “I’m not married. I make my own lunch.”
    Whether or not anyone else laughed, Dad certainly did.
     
     
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    Which is why you should always keep your towel handy, I know I do.
     
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    Meanwhile...in Japan
     
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    sandrewn
  15. sandrewn

    MDBCs 05 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 581
    March 5th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Ciarán of Saigir John Joseph of the Cross Piran Theophilus, bishop of Caesarea Thietmar of Minden March 5 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of Physical Culture and Sport (Azerbaijan) Learn from Lei Feng Day (China) St Piran's Day (Cornwall)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Absinthe Day
    Arrival Of The First Missionaries
    Clean Up Australia Day
    Custom Chief's Day
    Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day
    Finisher’s Medal Day
    International Open Data Day
    Kyrgyzstan National Hat Day
    Multiple Personality Day
    Namesake Day
    National Cheese Doodle Day
    National Potty Dance Day
    National Scott Day
    Reel Film Day
    World Information Architecture Day
    Fun Facts About Names Day
     
    mrfreshasian’s Birthday
    Claire Drake’s Birthday
    Madison Beer’s Birthday
    Chloe Veitch’s Birthday
     
    ~~~~~~
    Sun Mar 5th, 2023 - Sat Mar 11th, 2023
    Return Borrowed Books Week
    Read an E-Book Week
    National School Social Work Week
    Dental Assistant Recognition Week
    National Groundwater Awareness Week
    National Consumer Protection Week
    National Professional Pet Sitters Week
    No More Week
     
    Fun Observances ( 2 )
     Learn What Your Name Means Day
    On March 5, or Learn What Your Name Means Day, do some research to find out the out the origin and history of your name - first and last. Maybe you'll find a great tale behind your name!

    The holiday is part of Celebrate Your Name Week created by American Jerry Hill in 1997. The purpose of the week is to encourage people to celebrate and appreciate their unique names.
    Types of Names
    A name is a word used to identify people, places, and things. A person is identified by their name or full name, and this usually consists of at least two words - the given name, which is also known as the first name, and the surname, which is also known as the family name or last name.
    The purpose of the surname or family name is to indicate that the person belongs to a specific family or clan. In many cultures, people are identified by a single name.
    Tracing History
    Because of different naming conventions around the world, a person's name, while not unique, can tell a lot of the person's heritage and family history. For example, many societies in the world use patronymic names - at least one part of a person's name comes from the father's family.
    By following the chain of shared names back, one can find, if records exist, a lot about one's ancestors. Similarly, some cultures follow a matronymic tradition where part of a person's name comes from the mother's side of the family.
    How to Celebrate?
    Talk to your parents or family members about your name. Ask them why they gave you your name and what it means. With a little bit of research you may be able to find out about the lives of your ancestors. How about learning your name in Morse code? Did You Know…
    …that the study of the history, origin, and meaning of proper names is called onomatology?
    ~~~~~~~
     Cinco de Marcho Day
    A play on Cinco de Mayo, Cinco de Marcho is an unofficial holiday celebrated annually on March 5. The made-up holiday encourages people to get ready for St. Patrick’s Day on March 17.

    According to the official Cinco de Marcho website, the day was created in 2007 in the United States. It marks the beginning of a 12-day period when "people train their livers for drinking huge amounts of alcohol on St. Patrick’s Day."
    A Celebration of Irish Culture
    Also colloquially known as St. Paddy's Day, St. Patrick’s Day is an annual celebration of Irish culture. It commemorates St. Patrick, one of Ireland’s patron saints, who was responsible for spreading Christianity in Ireland during the 5th century.
    Associated with Irish Beer
    In recent years, with the spread of Irish immigrants around the world, St. Patrick's Day has become a holiday celebrated worldwide. In many parts of the world, people celebrate the day by drinking lots of Irish beer and participating in St. Patrick Day parades. Cinco de Marcho is a way to extend these celebrations to the previous weeks and encourage people to start consuming Irish beers days before the actual event.
    How to Celebrate?
    Host a party for your friends and organize drinking games. Visit your favorite bars with your friends and spend the evening drinking your favorite adult beverages. Do not drink? What about just getting together with friends and having a good time? Someone wise once did say that you don’t need alcohol to have fun. Did You Know...
    ...that Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday celebrated every year on May 5? The holiday celebrates the anniversary of the defeat of the French army during the Battle of Puebla in Mexico on May 5, 1862.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    My mother, a meticulous housekeeper, often lectured my father about tracking dirt into the house. One day he came in to find her furiously scrubbing away at a spot on the floor and launching into a lecture. "I don't know what you've brought in," she said, "but I can't seem to get this out."

    He studied the situation for a moment and, without a word, moved a figurine on the window-sill where the sun was streaming in. The spot immediately disappeared.
     
    ***
     
    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."
     
    ***
     
    For years I had been telling my friend Pete that he ate too much fast food, but he always denied it. One day he admitted I was right.

    "What changed your mind?"

    "My grandson. When my daughter told him I was coming to visit, he asked, 'Grandpa from Florida, or Grandpa from Pizza Hut?' "
     
    ***
     
    We Uber drivers never know whom we’re going to end up with as a passenger.
    One day, I was driving over a new bridge, the design of which was very confusing. Completely confounded, I muttered, “I’d love to meet the genius who designed this mess.”
    With that, my passenger extended his hand in my direction and said, “Well, today is your lucky day. My name is Mike, I work for the county engineer’s office, and I’m the genius who designed this!”
    Surprisingly, he still gave me a tip.
     
     
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    sandrewn
  16. sandrewn

    MDBCs 04 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 580
    March 4th 2022 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Adrian of Nicomedia Casimir Felix of Rhuys Giovanni Antonio Farina (Catholic Church) Blessed Humbert III, Count of Savoy (Roman Catholic Church) Paul Cuffee (Episcopal Church) Peter of Pappacarbone Blessed Zoltán Meszlényi March 4 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) St Casimir's Day (Poland and Lithuania) World Obesity Day  
    Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details)
    National Grammar Day
    National Hug a G.I. Day
    National Sons Day
    Anniversary of The Coronation of The Sultan of Terengganu
    Benjamin Harrison Day
    Brain Injury Awareness Day
    Courageous Follower Day
    Global Day of the Engineer
    Holy Experiment Day
    HPV Awareness Day
    International GM's Day
    International Scrap Booking Industry Day
    Marching Music Day - 1
    Marching Band Day  - 2
    National Backcountry Ski Day
    National Dance The Waltz Day
    National Ida Day
    National Pound Cake Day
    National Quinton Day
    National Ray Day
    National Safety Day
    National Snack Day
    Old Inauguration Day
    Toy Soldier Day
    World Day of Fight against Sexual Exploitation
    Open Data Day
     
    Moniece Slaughter’s Birthday
    Dylan Gilmer’s Birthday
    K Michelle’s Birthday
    Bobbi Kristina Brown’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
     March Forth and Do Something Day
    March Forth and Do Something Day is a made-up holiday celebrated each year on March 4.

    The holiday encourages people to do something new that enriches their own lives or the lives of people in their community.
    March Fourth
    The name of this unofficial holiday plays on the words, march fourth, which when spoken out loud sounds like march forth - an expression used to convey action and moving forward.
    Homonyms
    March fourth and march forth are homophones - words or expressions that are pronounced alike, but have different meanings. Homographs, on the other hand, are words or expressions that are spelled the same way but have different meanings. Examples of such words include bass (a deep sound and a type of fish) and bow (to bend, the front of a ship and a type of knot). Homophones and homographs are both types of homonyms.
    How to Celebrate?
    March forth and do something. Volunteer in your community. Start something that you have always wanted to do, but have never had the chance to. Did You Know…
    …that the word March is a capitonym? Capitonyms are words or expressions whose meaning changes depending on where it's capitalized or not. March refers to the month, while march refers to a walking in a measured way.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    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?"    
     
    ***
     
    Traditional Chinese drugstores are always filled with bizarre remedies for everyday ailments. So while traveling in the Far East, I couldn't resist going into a drugstore to look around. There were rows and rows of jars filled with dried herbs, powders, and exotic oils.
    But one jar really caught my attention. The label said it was a guaranteed cure for stomachache.

    The jar was filled with chocolate chip cookies.
     
    ***
     
    To mail a big package of cookies to my two Air Force sons, both of whom were serving in Saudi Arabia, I was required to attach a label describing the contents. I carefully marked the box "Cookies" and sent it off, but after a month my sons said they had yet to receive my package.

    Suspicious, I baked another batch, only this time I labeled the contents "Health Food." Within a week my sons reported they had received the goodies.   ***
     
    Spotted on T-shirts for sale in the Ponce de Leon Coast Guard Exchange:

    "Support Your Local Coast Guard…Get Lost."
     
    ***
     
    “Yesterday was my 18th birthday!” a customer said after walking into our convenience store. He then asked for some e-cigarette products and handed me his ID to prove he was indeed of age.
    I scanned the ID, but it came back expired.
    Now thoroughly deflated, he asked, “Does that mean I’m not 18?”
     
     
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    sandrewn
  17. sandrewn

    MDBCs 03 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 579
    March 3rd 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Anselm, Duke of Friuli Arthelais Cunigunde of Luxembourg Katharine Drexel John and Charles Wesley (Episcopal Church (USA)) Marinus and Asterius of Caesarea Winwaloe March 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Hinamatsuri or "Girl's Day" (Japan) Liberation and Freedom Day (Charlottesville, Virginia, USA) Liberation Day (Bulgaria) Martyrs' Day (Malawi) Mother's Day (Georgia) Sportsmen's Day (Egypt) World Hearing Day World Wildlife Day  
    Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details)
    National Day of Unplugging
    National If Pets Had Thumbs Day - 1
    What If Cats and Dogs Had Opposable Thumbs? Day - 2
    33 Flavors Day
    Canadian Bacon Day
    Caregiver Appreciation Day
    Denim Day for Dementia
    Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
    International Ear Care Day
    International Irish Whiskey Day
    Missouri Compromise Day
    National Anthem Day
    National Cold Cuts Day
    National Dress in Blue Day
    National Employee Appreciation Day
    National Jackson Day
    National Moscow Mule Day
    National Mulled Wine Day
    National Rita Day
    National Robin Day
    National Soup it Forward Day - 1
    National Soup It Forward Day - 2
    National Speech and Debate Education Day
    Navy Reserves Birthday
    Overseas N.H.S. Workers Day
    Peach Blossom Day
    Simplify Your Life Day
    Talk in Third Person Day
    World Day of Prayer
    National Salesperson Day
     
    Camila Cabello’s Birthday
    Buddy Valastro’s Birthday
    ~~~~~~
    Fri Mar 3rd, 2023 - Thu Mar 9th, 2023
    Endometriosis Awareness Week
     
    Fun Observances
     I Want You to be Happy Day
    March 3 is I Want You to be Happy Day, a day to set aside selfish thoughts and to make someone feel special and happy.

    The anonymous creators of the unofficial holiday wanted to encourage people to do things that cheer up people around them.
    A Universal Emotion
    Even though happiness is a universal emotion, it can mean different things to different people. In today's busy world, it is easy to forget this and take on a more self-centric view of happiness. I Want You to be Happy Day inspires people set aside their definition of happiness and to find out what makes their loved ones happy and do those things for them.
    Happy Days
    The day is also known as National I Want You to be Happy Day in the United States.
    Other happy holidays are Let's Laugh Day, Random Act of Kindness Day, International Moment of Laughter Day, and Laugh and Get Rich Day.
    How to Celebrate?
    Make someone’s day special. Compliment them or just do something special to make them happy. Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you and that you will do everything to ensure that they are happy. Having troubles with a friend or a family member? Sit down with them and clear things up and tell them that you want them to be happy. Did You Know…
    …that many believe that the phrase "happy as a clam" originates from the fact that open clams give an impression of a smiling clam? Other sources, however, suggest that the fuller version of the phrase - happy as a clam at high water - explains why a clam may be happy. At high water, clams tend to have no predators including humans.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Pointing to a pan of chicken wings and legs disguised in the classic mess-hall manner, a young airman asked the mess sergeant, "What's for chow?"

    "Air Force chicken," replied the sergeant. "You want wings or landing gear?"
     
    ***
     
    A couple we know were in Lamaze class, where they had an activity requiring the husband to wear a bag of sand—to give him an idea of what it feels like to be pregnant. The husband stood up and shrugged, saying, "This doesn't feel so bad."

    The teacher then dropped a pen and asked him to pick it up.

    "You want me to pick up the pen as if I were pregnant?" he asked.

    "Exactly," replied the instructor.

    To the delight of the other husbands, he turned to his wife and said, "Honey, pick up that pen for me."
     
    ***
     
    After being at sea in the Persian Gulf for 90 straight days, I went to the squadron command master chief to complain. "Chief, I joined the Navy to see the world," I said, "but for the past three months all I've seen is water."

    "Lieutenant," he replied, "three-quarters of the earth is covered with water, and the Navy has been showing you that. If you wanted to see the other quarter, you should have joined the Army."
     
    ***
     
    When I was in high school in the ’70s, Dad said he’d just heard my favorite group on the radio, Carrying Grain.
    The band was Hall & Oates, and this gag perfectly sums up my father’s sense of humor.
     
     
    ***
     
     

    This one put me in a nostalgic mood, so here is a song I really liked and
    one of my favorite groups from way back when.
    The Irish Rovers - The Unicorn - YouTube
    While on that page I found "Celtic Thunder" which I have followed for years,
    featuring a duet of George Donaldson and a very young, Damien McGinty.
    IRELAND - 'A BIRD WITHOUT WINGS' - YouTube
    Sadly, George passed away March 12, 2014 (R.I.P.)
     
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    sandrewn
  18. sandrewn

    MDBCs 02 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 578
    March 2nd 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Air Force Day (Sri Lanka) Baloch Culture Day (Balochistan) Christian feast day: Agnes of Bohemia Angela of the Cross Blessed Charles the Good, Count of Flanders Chad of Mercia (Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Eastern Orthodox Church) John Maron March 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Feast of 'Alá (Loftiness), First day of the 19th month of the Baháʼí calendar (Baháʼí Faith) and first day of the Baháʼí Nineteen Day Fast Jamahiriya Day (Libya) National Read Across America Day (United States) Peasants' Day (Myanmar) Texas Independence Day Adwa Victory Day (Ethiopia)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details)
    American Citizenship Day
    International Rescue Cat Day
    James Ronald Webster Day
    National Banana Cream Pie Day
    National Egg McMuffin Day
    National Hospitalist Day
    National Walter Day
    The Toddle Waddle
    World Teen Mental Wellness Day
    World Book Day
    Dr. Seuss Day
     
    Luke Combs’s Birthday
    Savannah LaBrant’s Birthday
    Jon Bon Jovi’s Birthday
    Janhvi Kapoor’s Birthday
    Cindy Mello’s Birthday
    Becky G’s Birthday
    Dr. Seuss’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
     Old Stuff Day
    March 2 is Old Stuff Day. Take some time on this made-up holiday to appreciate the beauty of all things old and vintage.

    Or you can reflect on the same old, and sometimes boring, things that you do every day and take the opportunity to change things up.
    The holiday is also sometimes called National Old Stuff Day in the United States.
    Increased Value
    While people often see old things as something to be replaced by newer, shinier things, not all of them are useless. Wines, for example, are more valuable and tastier as they grow older.
    Many old items like maps, books, jewelry, furniture, clothes, and artifacts also gain value as they age. This is because they represent workmanship and aesthetics of a previous historical era, as well as technology that may not exist in present times.
    Much more valuable than old inanimate items is the wisdom and knowledge we can get from old people. From old family members, one can learn their family history, their genealogy, and their origins. Old people can provide us a richer and more colorful account of the past than any history book can.
    Antique Versus Vintage
    Not all old things are created equal. Those who study history divide historical items into two groups based on their age. Antiques are items that are at least 100 years old, while vintage items usually have to be at least 30 years or more old.
    How to Celebrate?
    Sort out that crammed attic or basement, and throw away any old things you have no use for anymore. Or, start a vintage collection. Visit thrift stores and flea markets - who knows what treasures you may come across? Get together with your grandparents or someone older than you and ask them to tell you stories about their childhood and youth. Learn about what was going on in the world when they were growing up. Take a bit of time today to contemplate your life and to add a few new activities or hobbies to spice up your routine. Continuing on the theme of old things, perhaps you could pick up collecting old rocks? Did You Know…
    …that earliest known pieces of jewelry made by humans are thought to be about 100,000 years old? Found in a cave in Israel, the pieces were made from mollusk shells.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    I called a video shop to order the war movie Battle of the Bulge.

    "Hold on," said the clerk. "I'll check our aerobics tapes."
     
    ***
     
    I was hospitalized with an awful sinus infection that caused the entire left side of my face to swell. On the third day, the nurse led me to believe that I was finally recovering when she announced excitedly,
    "Look, your wrinkles are coming back!"
     
    ***
     
    My wife received a credit-card application in the mail that she had not requested. She didn't want it, but I did. So I crossed off my wife's name on the form, entered my own and returned the application. I soon got a phone call from a woman saying my application had been rejected.

    I asked her why, and she told me the card could only be issued to the person originally solicited by the offer. However, she invited me to reapply, which I did during the same telephone call.

    A few days later I got another call to tell me my second application had been rejected.

    Why? The woman told me their files showed that I had previously applied for a card and had been denied.
     
    ***
     
    At his 103rd birthday party, my grandfather was asked if he thought that he'd be around for his 104th.

    "I certainly do," he replied. "Statistics show that very few people die between the ages of 103 and 104."
     
    ***
     
    As my sister and I were counting the cows in a pasture, Dad glanced over at the herd and said, “There are 127.”
    “How’d you know?” we asked.
    He replied, “I counted their legs and divided by four.”
    Decades later, my kids give me the same look I gave my dad every time I pull that same gag.
     
     
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    sandrewn
  19. sandrewn

    MDBCs 01 Mar 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 577
    March 1st 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Beer Day, marked the end of beer prohibition in 1989 (Iceland) Christian feast day: Agnes Tsao Kou Ying (one of the Martyr Saints of China) Albin David Eudokia of Heliopolis Pope Felix III Leoluca Luperculus Monan Rudesind Saint David's Day or Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant (Wales and Welsh communities) Suitbert March 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Commemoration of Mustafa Barzani's Death (Iraqi Kurdistan) Disability Day of Mourning Heroes' Day (Paraguay) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina from Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1992. National "Cursed Soldiers" Remembrance Day (Poland) Remembrance Day (Marshall Islands) Samiljeol (South Korea) Self-injury Awareness Day (international) Southeastern Europe celebration of the beginning of spring: Baba Marta Day (Bulgaria) Mărțișor (Romania and Moldova) The final day (fourth or fifth) of Ayyám-i-Há (Baháʼí Faith) World Seagrass Day Yap Day (Yap State) Zero Discrimination Day  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details)
    National Barista Day
    National Peanut Butter Lover's Day
    Asiatic Fleet Memorial Day
    Baby Sleep Day
    Endometriosis Awareness Day
    International Ideas Month
    International Women of Color Day
    Lavity Stoutt's Birthday
    National Dadgum That's Good Day
    National Fruit Compote Day
    National Horse Protection Day
    National Hotel Slipper Day
    National March First Day
    National Minnesota Day
    National Pig Day
    National Sage Day
    National Texas Stress Day
    National Wedding Planning Day
    National Welsh Corgi Day
    Peace Corps Day
    Public Risk Management Awareness Day
    Refired Not Retired Day
    Share a Smile Day
    Stop Bad Service Day
    World Civil Defense Day
    World Music Therapy Day
     
    Wonho’s Birthday
    Ron Howard’s Birthday
    Sawyer Sharbino’s Birthday
    Philza’s Birthday
    Kesha’s Birthday
    Kenny Redneck Tv’s Birthday
    Frederic Chopin’s Birthday
    Justin Bieber’s Birthday
    ~~~~~~
    Wed Mar 1st, 2023 - Tue Mar 7th, 2023
    Will Eisner Week
    Cheerleading Week
    Write a Letter Appreciation Week
    Universal Human Beings Week
     
    Observances (click on the month for details)
    National Nutrition Month
    National Women’s History Month
    National Hemophilia Awareness Month
    Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month
    National Social Work Month
    National Small Press Month
    National Kidney Month
    National Peanut Month
    National Craft Month
    International Ideas Month
    National Caffeine Awareness Month
    Endometriosis Awareness Month
    Rising Star Month
    National Credit Education Month
    National Cheerleading Safety Month
    National Umbrella Month
    National Music in Our Schools Month
     
    Fun Observances ( 2 )
     World Compliment Day
    March 1 is celebrated as World Compliment Day, a day that aims to address the “basic human need for recognition and appreciation.”

    Started in the Netherlands by Hans Poortvliet in 2001, the day is now celebrated in many European countries including Norway and Belgium.
    Spread Joy and Positivity
    According to the official website of the unofficial holiday, Poortvliet created the day as a way to spread happiness and increase productivity. The website encourages people to use words instead of gifts as a way to praise and appreciate people. The idea is to create the “most positive day in the world.”
    How to Celebrate?
    Pay compliments to everyone you meet. Appreciate family, coworkers, and friends for their hard work and for being there in your life. Did You Know...
    ...there is a similar holiday, Compliment Day that is annually celebrated on January 24?
    ~~~~~~~
     Plan a Solo Vacation Day
    Need a vacation and don’t have a traveling companion? Then March 1 or Plan a Solo Vacation Day is the unofficial holiday for you.

    On this day treat yourself to that vacation you have always wanted, without having to wait for someone to join you on your adventures.
    Advantages
    Planning a solo vacation can be intimidating and overwhelming. But traveling alone can have many advantages. Informal studies have shown that those who travel by themselves tend to be more spontaneous and adventurous. Facing unknown situations in new and strange places can help people overcome their fears and anxieties.
    Friendlier
    Those who travel solo are forced to interact with locals and fellow travelers, instead of just hanging out with a small group of people. This translates into social benefits in real life - solo travelers can easily mold themselves to fit into any social group and situation.
    Do Whatever You Want
    Finally, taking a solo vacation means you can be your own master. You don't have to stick to a plan or follow someone else's lead - you can go wherever you want, whenever you want, and do whatever you want to do. No more boring museums or spending countless hours shopping.
    How to Celebrate?
    Go on, plan your dream holiday all for yourself! You don’t need a traveling partner to have fun! Don't want to travel? What about a solo staycation? Stay at home, explore your city, catch up on your reading, meet with friends and enjoy your time off from work. Did You Know…
    …that the earliest guidebooks were called periplus? They were Roman and Greek documents that listed ports and landmarks that ships could encounter on their voyages.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    I had just had my 50th birthday and found the decade marker traumatic. When I went to get my driver's license renewed, a matter-of-fact woman typed out the information, tested my vision, snapped the camera and handed me a laminated card with my picture on it.

    "You mean I have to look at this for the next four years?" I jokingly said to her.

    "Don't worry about it," she replied. "In four years it'll look good to you."
     
    ***
     
    I am a first-grade teacher and a new empty nester. One night I was trying out an art project: making a person with simple materials. I took a coat hanger, attached a paper-plate face, put a shirt on the hanger and stuffed it. Then I sat it on the couch to see how it looked.

    Later that evening my son walked in the door, home for a surprise visit. Taking one look at my coat-hanger friend sitting on the couch, he said, "Mom, it's not that bad, is it?"
     
    ***
     
    At 82 years old, my husband applied for his first passport. He was told he would need a birth certificate, but his birth had never been officially registered. When he explained his dilemma to the passport agent, the response was less than helpful.

    "In lieu of a birth certificate," the agent said, "you can bring a notarized affidavit from the doctor who delivered you."
     
    ***
     
    My friend Garrick had the solution to forgetting his wife’s birthday and their wedding anniversary:
    He opened an account with a local florist and provided it with both dates as well as instructions to send flowers and a card signed “Your loving husband, Garrick.”
    For a few years, it worked.
    Then one day, Garrick came home on their wedding anniversary. He saw the flowers on the dining room table and said,
    “What nice flowers. Where did you get them?”
     
     
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    sandrewn
  20. sandrewn

    MDBCs 28 Feb 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 576
    February 28th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: February 28 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Kalevala Day, also known as the Finnish Culture Day (Finland) National Science Day (India)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details)
    National Chocolate Souffle Day
    National Pancake Day
    228 Memorial Day
    Andalusia Day
    Car Keys and Small Change Day
    Fasching
    Floral Design Day
    Global Scouse Day
    International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day
    Linus Pauling Day
    National Customized Wheel and Tire Day
    National Essay Day
    National Time Refund Day
    National Vegan Lipstick Day
    Rare Disease Day
    US Snow Shoe Day
    World Spay Day
    National Tooth Fairy Day
     
    LunarEclipse’s Birthday
    Jason Aldean’s Birthday
      Fun Observances
     Public Sleeping Day
    Catch a few winks or take a long nap in public to celebrate Public Sleeping Day on February 28.

    Definitely one of the more quirky made-up holidays we have seen, Public Sleeping Day or National Public Sleeping Day as it is also known, encourages people to commune with nature by sleeping outdoors in public.
    Cold in the North
    Cold temperatures in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere may make observing this holiday a foolhardy venture so make sure you have a sleeping bag. And if you are looking for a restful adventure, this may be the perfect holiday for you to participate in.
    How to Celebrate?
    Get your favorite pillow and blanket and find a safe and clean place in public to take a nap. Make sure you layer up if it is still winter in your part of the world. You don't even need to find a special place to take a nap. If you have long commute why not take that time to catch a few winks? Get together with friends and organize a large pajama party at a park. Have everyone bring their sleeping bags, set up an outdoor movie screen, have a picnic and then take a nap. Did You Know…
    …that humans are the only mammals that can willingly delay sleep?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    In good weather, my friend Mark always let his yellow-naped Amazon parrot, Nicky, sit on the balcony of his tenth-floor apartment. One morning, Nicky flew away, much to Mark’s dismay. He searched and called for the bird, with no luck.

    The next day when Mark returned from work, the phone rang. “Is this Mark?” The caller asked. “You’re going to think this is crazy, but there’s a bird outside on my balcony saying, ‘Hello, this is Mark.’ Then it recites this phone number and says, ‘I can’t come to the phone right now, but if you will leave a message at the tone, I will call you back.’”

    Nicky’s cage had been kept in the same room as Mark’s answering machine.
     
    ***
     
    We brought our newborn son, Adam, to the pediatrician for his first checkup. As he finished, the doctor told us, "You have a cute baby."

    Smiling, I said, "I bet you say that to all new parents."

    "No," he replied, "just to those whose babies really are good-looking."

    "So what do you say to the others?" I asked.

    "He looks just like you."
     
    ***
     
    Neighbors of ours had a terrible disagreement over a patio they wanted for their backyard. The wife had rather grand ideas, while the husband wanted costs kept to a minimum. The wife won out, and the construction bill climbed higher and higher.

    I dropped by one day, when the patio was near completion, and was surprised to find the husband smiling from ear to ear as the workmen smoothed over the surface. I remarked how nice it was to see a grin replace the frown he had been wearing lately.

    “You see where they’re smoothing that cement?” he replied. “I just threw my wife’s credit cards in there.”
     
    ***
     
    I grew up hearing my dad tell a joke about a Mrs. Dunn, whose son, Timmy Dunn, had left Ireland for America, never to be heard from again. She discovered that Mike O’Malley was leaving for America and asked Mike to look for Timmy and tell him to write to her.
    Well, Mike looked for Tim everywhere he went, asking many a man whether he was Timmy Dunn, but to no avail. Then one day in a men’s room, a man walked out of a stall. Mike asked him, “Are you Dunn?”
    The gentleman said, “Yes.”
    Mike replied, “Well, why don’t you write to your mother?!”
    When my 12-year-old brother heard Dad tell the joke for the hundredth time, all of sudden, he started laughing.
    “I finally got it!”
     
     
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    sandrewn
  21. sandrewn

    MDBCs 27 Feb 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 575
    February 27th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows George Herbert (Anglicanism) Honorina Leander February 27 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) The second day of Ayyám-i-Há (Baháʼí Faith) (Note: this observance is only on this date in the Gregorian calendar if Baháʼí Naw-Rúz takes place on March 21, which it does not in all years) Doctors' Day (Vietnam) Independence Day (Dominican Republic), celebrates the first independence of Dominican Republic from Haiti in 1844. Majuba Day (some Afrikaners in South Africa) Marathi Language Day (Maharashtra, India) World NGO Day  
    Observances (click on the day, BD, week or fortnight for details)
    National Protein day
    Anosmia Awareness Day
    Battle of the Oranges Ivrea
    Clean Monday
    National Albert Day
    National Kahlua Day
    National Pokemon Day
    National Strawberry Day
    National Susan Day
    Orthodox Lent
    Retro Day
    Special Operations Forces Day
    The Big Breakfast Day
    Play More Cards Day
     
    Ten’s Birthday
    Steven Fernandez’s Birthday
    JWoww’s Birthday
    Money Man’s Birthday
    Elizabeth Taylor’s Birthday
     
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Mon Feb 27th, 2023 - Sun Mar 5th, 2023 Cornish Pasty Week
    Mon Feb 27th, 2023 - Sun Mar 12th, 2023 Fairtrade Fortnight
     
    Fun Observances ( 2 )
    International Polar Bear Day
    International Polar Bear Day on February 27 is an unofficial holiday created by Polar Bear International (PBI). It raises awareness of the impact of global warming on Polar Bears.

    Polar Bear International is a group run by conservationists, scientists, and volunteers working to educate the public about the effects of climate change on the Arctic region. More specifically, they focus on how global warming is slowly destroying the habitat of polar bears and adversely affecting their population.
    Reduced Food Source
    Despite being the largest carnivores on land, polar bears largely rely on seals for food. Shorter ice seasons and melting sea ice mean seals, who rely on ice to raise their young, are becoming scarcer. This is leaving polar bears without a ready source of food. Lack of food is also forcing polar bears to venture into areas populated by humans, making them vulnerable to attacks from residents and hunters.
    Vulnerable to Diseases
    Rising temperatures, loss of weight, and lack of nutrition due to lack of food has also meant that polar bears are now becoming vulnerable to previously unknown diseases.
    Scientists believe all of these factors have caused a severe decline in polar bear populations, and if the trend continues global warming could potentially lead to the extinction of the species.
    Effects of Human Activity
    Human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, is considered by scientists as the primary cause of global warming.
    The goal of International Polar Bear Day is to bring light to this fact, and to encourage people around the world to help find solutions to the problem of climate change.
    How to Observe?
    Fixing global warming might seem like a daunting task for an individual, but it doesn't have to be. Use this day to find ways to reduce your carbon footprint and help raise awareness about the importance of polar bears in our ecology, and the effects of global warming on their survival.
    To reduce your carbon footprint, consider taking the following steps:
    Walk, bike, take public transport, or carpool to work. Avoid using a vehicle that runs on fossil fuel as much as you can. Reduce plastic usage and waste by carrying your reusable shopping bags to the stores. Plant trees in your backyard if you have space or join a local tree planting drive. Learn more about polar bears, their habitat, habits, and life cycle. Raise funds or volunteer your time for an organization that works to reduce global warming. Did You Know…
    … that polar bears are black and not white? Their fur is transparent while their skin is black. The transparent fur reflects sunlight such that it looks white to human eyes.
     
    ~~~~~~~
    No Brainer Day
    February 27 is No Brainer Day. It is believed that the holiday was created by Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith in the United States as a way to remind people that most things are simple and that many problems we encounter daily have obvious and easy solutions.

    The made-up holiday, which is also sometimes known as International No Brainer Day, also allows people to stop over analyzing things, second-guessing themselves, and to relax and take it easy.
    Very Little Thought
    The holiday gets its name from the English language phrase no brainer, which refers to decisions or choices that require very little effort and thought.
    How to Celebrate?
    That’s a no brainer of course! Take this day to relax your brain and stop yourself from over analyzing problems. Leave that for another day. Did You Know…
    …that in a study conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, neuroscientists found that the human brain could process images that had been flashed before the person for as little as 13 milliseconds?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    I was working as a short-order cook at two restaurants in the same neighborhood. On a Saturday night, I was finishing up the dinner shift at one restaurant and hurrying to report to work at the second place. But I was delayed because one table kept sending back an order of hash browns, insisting they were too cold. I replaced them several times, but still the customers were dissatisfied.

    When I was able to leave, I raced out the door and arrived at my second job. A server immediately handed me my first order. "Make sure these hash browns are hot," she said, "because these people just left a restaurant down the street that kept serving them cold ones."
     
    ***
     
    The generation gap proved glaringly obvious at the mail-order music company where my wife works as a customer service representative. Some college students, who were working part-time inputting customer information, wrote the following notes regarding some golden oldies:
    "Customer is looking for two song titles:
    'Shovel Off Two Buffaloes' and 'Honey, Suck a Rose.' "
     
    ***
     
    While I was dining out with my children, a man came over to our table and we started talking. He asked where my kids go to school. I told him we home-school them. With a raised eyebrow he asked if my husband is the sole breadwinner for our family. I said no, I also work—out of our home. Then, noticing our two-month-old son, he mentioned that his daughter had just had a baby, and he wondered what hospital our son was born in.

    "He was born at home," I answered.

    The man looked at me, then said, "Wow, you don't get out much, do you?"
     
    ***
     
    My mother was hard of hearing and wore a hearing aid that she removed at bedtime.
    My dad would wait till she had put it on her nightstand and say, “Do you want to go to sleep or what?”
    Not being able to hear, she would inevitably respond with “What?”
    And that, my dad joked to me on numerous occasions, is the explanation for why I come from a very large family.
     
     
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    Pre - Covid
     
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    sandrewn
  22. sandrewn

    MDBCs 26 Feb 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 574
    February 26th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Alexander of Alexandria Emily Malbone Morgan (Episcopal Church (USA)) Isabelle of France Li Tim-Oi (Anglican Church of Canada) Porphyry of Gaza February 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of Remembrance for Victims of Khojaly Massacre (Azerbaijan) Liberation Day (Kuwait) Saviours' Day (Nation of Islam)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details)
    Letter to an Elder Day
    Black Lives Matter Day
    Carnival Day
    Carpe Diem Day
    For Pete's Sake Day
    International Tongue Twister Contest Day
    Levi Strauss Day
    National Saul Day
    Orthodox Forgiveness Sunday
    National Personal Chef Day
     
    Johnny Cash’s Birthday
    Erykah Badu’s Birthday
    Eva Cudmore’s Birthday
    Duke Dennis’s Birthday
     
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Sun Feb 26th, 2023 - Sat Mar 4th, 2023 Peace Corps Week
    Telecommuter Appreciation Week
     
    Fun Observances ( 2 )
    Pistachio Day
    Archeologists believe that pistachios were used as food as early as 6000 BCE. Celebrate this ancient and healthy nut on February 26, Pistachio Day.

    Also known as National Pistachio Day or World Pistachio Day, this unofficial holiday encourages people to add pistachios to their daily diets and take advantage of their health benefits.
    Happy Nut
    Called the happy nut in China and the smiling nut in Iran, pistachios are native to the Middle East and Central Asia.
    Food historians believe that the pistachio tree reached Greece along with Alexander the Great's army. Traders introduced the nut to the rest of the European continent, where it was initially used as an expensive addition to food and baked goods.
    Dyed Red to Hide Flaws
    In the United States, the nut was introduced by Middle Eastern immigrants during the late 19th century. Even though, the country now produces most of the world's pistachio crops, along with Iran, Turkey and Syria, the nut wasn't grown commercially there until the mid 20th century.
    In the initial days of their commercial productions, pistachio shells were dyed red or green by the growers. This was to hide the marks and dents made on the shell during harvesting. Today, with mechanical harvesting procedures, there is no reason to dye the shells anymore.
    Full of Nutrients
    Pistachios are a rich source of proteins, fiber, and vitamin B. Research indicates that adding the nut to one's daily diet may reduce the risk of heart disease.
    The nut is used in many cuisines around the world. In the Middle East, it is one of the main ingredients in many types of sweets including baklava and halva. In Italy, it is used to make spumoni and pistachio gelato – the Italian versions of ice cream.
    How to Celebrate?
    Add pistachios to every meal of the day. Start with adding it to your breakfast cereal, substitute peanut butter with pistachio butter for your lunch sandwich, have a pistachio crusted pork chop for dinner and finish the day off with a scoop or two of pistachio ice cream or pistachio cake. Did You Know…
    …that the Jylgyndy Forest Reserve in Kyrgyzstan was created to conserve the pistachio plant?
    ~~~~~~~
    Tell a Fairy Tale Day
    Tell a Fairy Tale Day is on February 26. The unofficial holiday encourages celebrators to read, tell, and listen to fairy tales from around the world.

    Fairy tales are a genre of literature that features fantastical and magical characters. Usually in the form of short stories with fairies, elves, trolls, and witches as central characters, fairy tales are set in a magical world with events that take place "once upon a time."
    Oral Tradition
    A form of folk tales, fairy tales have a strong oral and written tradition all around the world - with cultures adopting whole or parts of tales from other cultures.
    Before the 17th century, fairy tales often had themes unsuitable for children and were written mostly for adults.
    Children's Genre
    Today, fairy tales are considered to be a genre of children's literature and the term fairy tale is used to refer to happy events and happenings, such as a fairy tale romance or a fairy tale ending.
    The holiday is also known as National Tell a Fairy Tale Day in the United States.
    How to Celebrate?
    Set your imagination free on this very fantastical holiday and re-read all your favorite fairy tales. If you have children in your lives, why not introduce them to some of the world's most famous fairy tales? Bring out your inner writer and pen down a fairy tale. Who knows, you could be the next Hans Christian Andersen! Watch movies based on fairy tales. Host a fairy tale party. Instruct your guests to come as their favorite fairy tale character, decorate the venue as if you were in an enchanted land of fairy tales and serve foods from all your favorite fairy tale stories. Some ideas include caramel apples (Snow White), pea salad (The Princess and the Pea), pumpkin soup (Cinderella) and porridge or rice pudding (Goldilocks and the Three Bears). Did You Know…
    … that at least 500 versions of Cinderella have been found around the world?
       
    ***
     
     
    One morning a customer entered my flower shop and ordered a bouquet for his wife. "No card is necessary," he instructed us. "She'll know who sent them."

    The delivery truck hadn't even returned to the store when the phone rang. It was the customer's wife. "Who sent the flowers?" she asked.

    After explaining that the customer had requested that no card be included, I considered the matter closed—but not so. A bit later, she came rushing in the front door. "You've got to tell me who sent the flowers," she demanded, "before my husband gets home."
     
    ***
     
    Another man and I share a locker at work. Noticing that it needed a new combination lock, my partner said he would pick one up on his way to work the next day. It occurred to me later that I might not see him in the morning. How would I find out the combination? I needn't have worried. When I arrived at work I found that he had used the locker before me and had left a note reading:
    "To find the first number subtract 142 from your high score the last time we went bowling.
    The second number is 16 less than that.
    To find the third number subtract 1.87 from the amount you owe me."
     
    ***
     
    Faculty members at Texas Christian university were urged to become familiar with the timesaving machines of the new computer center. Basic courses in their use were given, and research projects were accelerated.

    The faculty was enthusiastic—except for one veteran professor. Not only did he flunk the primer course, but on his first project, when he asked the machine simply to separate the names of students by sex, the cards came out in three stacks.
     
    ***
     
    The other day I got carded at the liquor store. While I was taking out my ID, my old Blockbuster card fell out.
    The clerk shook his head, said, “Never mind,” and rang me up.
     
     
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    Grammatical Pedantry Syndrome: Signs That You're Suffering From GPS
     
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    sandrewn
  23. sandrewn

    MDBCs 25 Feb 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 573
    February 25th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast days: Æthelberht of Kent Blessed Ciriaco María Sancha y Hervás Gerland of Agrigento John Roberts, writer and missionary (Anglican Communion) Hamburg Matthiae-mahl, feast of Hanseatic League cities on the mediaeval first day of spring Blessed Maria Adeodata Pisani Saint Walpurga (she was canonised on 1 May c. 870 and Walpurgis Night is celebrated 30 April) February 25 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Kitano Baika-sai or "Plum Blossom Festival" (Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan) Memorial Day for the Victims of the Communist Dictatorships (Hungary) National Day (Kuwait) People Power Day (Philippines) Revolution Day in Suriname Soviet Occupation Day (Georgia)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details)
    Choiseul Province Day
    Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day
    Let's All Eat Right Day
    National Billy Day
    National Chocolate Covered Nut Day
    National Jessica Day
    National Kathy Day
    National Nicholas Day
    Open That Bottle Night
    Pistol Patent Day
    Quiet Day
    National Clam Chowder Day
     
    Ric Flair’s Birthday
    Nick Hounslow’s Birthday
    James Phelps’s Birthday
    George Harrison’s Birthday
    Dutchess Lattimore’s Birthday
    Chelsea Handler’s Birthday
     
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Sat Feb 25th, 2023 - Sun Mar 5th, 2023
    Jewish Book Week
     
    Fun Observances
    World Sword Swallowers Day
    If you enjoy seeing people do dangerous things, you will enjoy celebrating World Sword Swallowers Day on the last Saturday of February.

    This unofficial holiday was created by the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) in 2008. It celebrates the ancient art of sword swallowing and honors those who practice it.
    16 Inches Long
    The day also attempts to dispel myths about sword swallowing and to bring international attention to the medical and scientific contribution of sword swallowers.
    According to SSAI, sword swallowing is the act of passing a sword or solid blade at least 16 inches long through the mouth into the stomach. Contrary to popular belief, sword swallowing is not a magic trick or an illusion, but a real skill that requires a lot of hard work and practice.
    How to Celebrate?
    Find a sword swallowing event nearby and go watch them. Learn about the art and science behind sword swallowing. Did You Know…
    …that the art of sword swallowing is an ancient art that is thought to have originated in the southern part of India?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Checking out of the grocery store, I noticed the bag boy eyeing my two adopted children. They often draw scrutiny, since my son's a blond Russian, while my daughter has shiny black Haitian skin.

    The boy continued staring as he carried our groceries to the car. Finally he asked, "Those your kids?"

    "They sure are," I said with pride.

    "They adopted?"

    "Yes," I replied.

    "I thought so," he concluded. "I figured you're too old to have kids that small."
     
    ***
     
    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?"
     
    ***
     
    It was the first day of basketball practice at Wingate high school in Brooklyn, N.Y. Coach Jack Kaminer handed a ball to each player. "Fellas," he said, "I want you to practice shooting from the spots you might expect to be in during the game."

    The No. 12 sub immediately sat down on the bench and began arcing the ball toward the basket.
     
    ***
     
    New to the United States, I was eager to meet people. So one day I struck up a conversation with the only other woman in the gym. Pointing to two men playing racquetball in a nearby court, I said to her, "There’s my husband." Then I added, "The thin one—not the fat one."
    After a slightly uncomfortable silence she replied, "And that’s my husband—the fat one."  
     
    ***
     
    I was waiting at a small train station when a man put up a sign regarding my train:
    “30-Minute Delay.”
    “What happened?” I asked.
    “The train went off the rails,” he said.
    “How long will that take to fix?”
    “Quite a few hours.”
    “So why put up a sign saying it would take 30 minutes?”
    “It’s the only sign we have.”
     
     
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    sandrewn
  24. sandrewn

    MDBCs 24 Feb 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 572
    February 24th 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Blessed Ascensión Nicol y Goñi Lindel Tsen and Paul Sasaki (Anglican Church of Canada) Modest (bishop of Trier) Sergius of Cappadocia February 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Dragobete (Romania) Engineer's Day (Iran) Flag Day in Mexico Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Estonia from the Russian Empire in 1918; the Soviet period is considered to have been an illegal annexation. National Artist Day (Thailand) Sweden Finns' Day (Sweden)  
    Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details)
    Discover Girl Day
    Edward Dickinson Baker Day
    Friday Fish Fry Day
    I Hate Coriander Day
    International Stand Up to Bullying Day
    National Skip the Straw Day
    National Tartar Sauce Day
    National Trading Card Day
    Twin Peaks Day
    World Bartender Day
    Yukon Heritage Day
     
    Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s Birthday
    Steve Jobs’s Birthday
    Earl Sweatshirt’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
    Tortilla Chip Day
    Honor the tortilla chip – the carrier of delicious dips – on February 24, Tortilla Chip Day.

    Tortilla chips were first popularized as a way to reuse misshapen tortillas by Rebecca Webb Carranza whose family owned the Los Angeles-based El Zarape Tortilla Factory in the 1940s.
    Served With Dip
    Today tortilla chips accompanied by some form of a dip is now a staple party dish.
    Usually made of fried yellow corn tortillas, tortilla chips can be served with dips like salsa, guacamole, or spicy guacamole. It can be incorporated in a more elaborate dish with cheese and sour cream such as nachos.
    How to Celebrate?
    Have tortilla chips for all your meals today - have tortilla chip cereal for breakfast, crush them into your salad at lunch, and have nachos for dinner. Try making your own tortilla chips at home. Did You Know…
    …that tortilla chips and salsa are the state snack of Texas?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    The plane was only half-full. When an attractive young woman asked if the seat next to mine was free, my male ego soared. Soon we were chatting pleasantly, and she told me it was her first flight.

    "Mom said to sit next to someone I thought I could trust," she confessed nervously, "and you look just like my dad."
     
    ***
     
    While on the freeway in Los Angeles, I was behind a pack of cars. The last driver was on the phone and drifting all over the road. This did not escape the attention of a California Highway Patrol officer, who snuck up behind her and said over his loudspeaker, "If you can't stay in your lane while on the phone, pull over until the call is completed."

    Immediately eight cars pulled over.
     
    ***
     
    My husband and I, married 13 years, were dressing for a party. I'd spent all day getting a haircut and permanent, then as we were leaving, we met in the hall and he said nothing.
    I complained that he had not even noticed my hair. "You used to pay attention to every little thing, and now you don't notice anything! You take me for granted!"
    My husband stood there rubbing his face as he let me rant and rave. Then it hit me: He'd shaved off his six-month-old beard.
     
    ***
     
    Q: What do you call a boomerang that doesn't work?
    A: A stick.
     
    ***
     
    Q: What do you call four bullfighters in quicksand?
    A: Quattro sinko.
     
    ***
     
    Ed: The same bike tries to run me down every day.
    Fred: Sounds like a vicious cycle...
     
     
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    sandrewn
  25. sandrewn

    MDBCs 23 Feb 2023

    By sandrewn,


    Bread Crumbs 571
    February 23rd 2023 - Holidays and Observances
     
    (click on the day for details)
    Christian feast day: Polycarp of Smyrna Serenus the Gardener February 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) The Emperor's Birthday, birthday of Naruhito, the current Emperor of Japan (Japan) Mashramani-Republic Day (Guyana) National Day (Brunei) Red Army Day or Day of Soviet Army and Navy in the former Soviet Union, also held in various former Soviet republics: Defender of the Fatherland Day (Russia) Defender of the Fatherland and Armed Forces day (Belarus) Armed Forces Day (Tajikistan) (Tajikistan)  
    Observances (click on the day or week for details)
    National Chili Day
    National Hospitality Workers Appreciation Day
    Curling Is Cool Day
    Diesel Engine Day
    Digital Learning Day
    Launceston Cup
    National Banana Bread Day
    National Dog Biscuit Day
    National Rationalization Day
    National Rudy Day
    National Tile Day
    National Toast Day
    Pinocchio Day
    Play Tennis Day
    The Great American Spit Out
    Tootsie Roll Day
    World Understanding and Peace Day
     
    Desiree Montoya’s Birthday
    Emily Blunt’s Birthday
    Dakota Fanning’s Birthday
     
    Fun Observances
    International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
    February 23 is Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day. Show your appreciation for your furry canine friends by spoiling them with their favorite dog biscuits.

    Dog biscuits, or dog bread as they were known then, have been part of human-canine history since Roman times.
    Bad Bread
    For a large part of history, dog bread was considered bad, low-quality bread unfit for human consumption.
    It is thought that modern day dog biscuits were created by American inventor James Pratt sometime in the 19th century.
    Toothbrush
    Today, there are hundreds of types of dog biscuits, many of which claim that they can help maintain your dog's oral health by acting as a "toothbrush" cleaning the dog's teeth.
    The origins of this holiday are unknown, and it is also known as Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day or National Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day in the U.S.
    How to Celebrate?
    They say that a dog is a man’s best friend – they shower you with unconditional love and are always there for you. So, give your dog all your love on Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day. Treat your dog with his or her favorite biscuits. Better still, bake them at home – they will surely appreciate it! Did You Know…
    …that dogs can express about 100 types of expressions using mostly their ears?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    As a professor at Texas A&M, I taught during the day and did research at night. I would usually take a break around nine, however, calling up the strategy game Warcraft on the Internet and playing with an online team.

    One night I was paired with a veteran of the game who was a master strategist. With him at the helm, our troops crushed opponent after opponent, and after six games we were undefeated. Suddenly, my fearless leader informed me his mom wanted him to go to bed.

    "How old are you?" I typed.

    "Twelve," he replied. "How old are you?"

    Feeling my face redden, I answered, "Eight."
     
    ***
     
    While my friend Emily was visiting her mother, they went for a walk and bumped into an old family acquaintance. "Is this your daughter?" the woman asked. "Oh, I remember her when she was this high. How old is she now?"

    Without pausing, Emily's mother said, "Twenty-four." Emily, 35, nearly fainted on the spot.

    After everyone had said their good-byes, Emily asked her mother why she'd told such a whopper.

    "Well," she replied, "I've been lying about my age for so long, it suddenly dawned on me that I'd have to start lying about yours too."
     
    ***
     
    An acquaintance of mine was hired as a research assistant by the physics department of a West Coast university to investigate the thermodynamic properties of wood. Two weeks after starting work he was approached by an encyclopedia salesman who explained that purchase of the encyclopedia entitled the buyer to have any three special questions answered completely. To save himself a great deal of work, the researcher bought the encyclopedia, stipulating for his first free question a full dissertation on the thermodynamic properties of wood.

    Three weeks later the head of the physics department called the research assistant into his office and said, "We have a request from an encyclopedia company. One of their customers has asked for a report on the thermodynamic properties of wood. Please prepare the report for them."
     
    ***
     
    While serving in Vietnam, my friend and his buddies were hunkered down in a mud-filled hole that had been dug into the side of a berm and covered with lumber for protection. Their one extravagance: a bare light bulb they’d hung from the “ceiling.”
    One guy was reading a newspaper article from back home about a congressional investigation into why some troops were living in relative luxury.
    The guy put down the paper, turned to my friend, and said,
    “Well, there goes the light bulb.”
     
     
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    sandrewn
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