sandrewn

February 27th 2024 - 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) 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) Anosmia Awareness Day National Albert Day National Kahlua Day National Pokemon Day National Protein day National Strawberry Day National Susan Day Retro Day Special Operations Forces Day The Big Breakfast Day World Spay Day Ten’s Birthday Steven Fernandez’s Birthday Money Man’s Birthday JWoww’s Birthday Elizabeth Taylor’s Birthday Kate Mara John Steinbeck 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. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Pre - Covid *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

I totally agree with you. I can think of (at least) 3 times for me. 1 - My very first jump (with parachute) out of a C-130, that first step out, there is no describing it and yes I did qualify and got my jump wings(1975). 2 - Worst sandstorm of the year, Sinai desert, Egypt(1976). Running towards a Canadian jeep and its' 2 man crew stuck in the sand, 100 feet or so, off the road. While I was dashing towards them(about half way in), just above the howling of the wind(and blinding sandstorm), I faintly heard my convoy 2nd in command yelling at me, so I stopped and turned around to look. He and our two Egyptian military guards were screaming, madly jumping up and down/waving their arms. " YOU ARE RUNNING THROUGH A MINE FIELD!!!" I carefully, but quickly followed my fast disappearing tracks back to the road. In case you are wondering, after the storm, sappers were called to get the jeep and crew out. 3 - I owned a computer store. I arrived early as usual. Door bell rang, saw a young man (it was a glass front door). Through the intercom I said we were not open yet. He was only a couple of feet away from me. He pulled out an automatic pistol, pointed it at me and said, open the door or you are dead. So I buzzed him in. Then two more showed up. I was tied up. I still remember after over 20 years the feel of the gun barrel to my forehead and the sound of the hammer being cocked. They put a closed for the day sign on the door. Ransacked the basement and main floor, used my van to haul everything away. "THEY DIDN'T HIDE THEIR FACES", I was sure that I would be killed. Since I am here writing about this, I guess I was wrong. (they were never caught)

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows.

Having admitted to killing (WAAAY)over 145 spiders, we all know that you are living on borrowed time. That the cartoon spider only had six legs, well I don't think anyone involved in the making of this film gives gives a damn!! In fact I am pretty darn sure they are all DEAD! Sorry Charlie, whoops, I mean Bill. Sleep tight, don't let the spiders(ummh, the bed bugs) bite.

You have to admit, that you never know what my searches might bring you. Case in point! The Cobweb Hotel (1936) - YouTube

February 26th 2024 - 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) Black Lives Matter Day Carnival Day Carpe Diem Day For Pete's Sake Day International Tongue Twister Contest Day Letter to an Elder Day Levi Strauss Day National Saul Day Thermos Bottle Day Museum Advocacy Days National Personal Chef Day Play More Cards Day Johnny Cash’s Birthday Eva Cudmore’s Birthday Erykah Badu’s Birthday Duke Dennis’s Birthday ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mon Feb 26th, 2024 - Fri Mar 1st, 2024 National Invasive Species Awareness Week NEDA Week Mon Feb 26th, 2024 - Sun Mar 3rd, 2024 Cornish Pasty Week Mon Feb 26th, 2024 - Mon Mar 4th, 2024 Jewish Book 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. *** *** *** *** *** *** Grammatical Pedantry Syndrome: Signs That You're Suffering From GPS *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

???

February 25th 2024 - 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 Blessed Robert of Arbrissel, founder of Fontevraud Abbey 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 Let's All Eat Right Day National Billy Day National Chocolate Covered Nut Day National Jessica Day National Kathy Day National Nicholas Day Pistol Patent Day Quiet Day National Clam Chowder Day Nick Hounslow’s Birthday George Harrison’s Birthday Dutchess Lattimore’s Birthday Chelsea Handler’s Birthday Ric Flair’s Birthday James Phelps’s Birthday Rashida Jones Sean Astin Téa Leoni ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sun Feb 25th, 2024 - Sat Mar 2nd, 2024 Peace Corps Week *** 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.” *** 'Happy Birth Year' to me! *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

(if you are still wondering why this is posted here, read the last stat and take heed)

February 24th 2024 - 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) DiscoverE Girl Day Edward Dickinson Baker Day Guru Ravidas Jayanti I Hate Coriander Day Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day Lailatul Barat Floating Lantern Festival - 1 Lantern Festival - 2 Lantern Festival Taiwan - 3 Maghi Purnima Makha Bucha Day National Trading Card Day Navam Full Moon Poya Day Open That Bottle Night Tourism Day Twin Peaks Day World Bartender Day Steve Jobs’s Birthday Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s Birthday Earl Sweatshirt’s Birthday ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sat Feb 24th, 2024 - Tue Feb 27th, 2024 Whooping Crane Festival Fun Observances ( 2 ) 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? ~~~~~~~ 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? *** 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... *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 23rd 2024 - 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, BD or week for details) Curling Is Cool Day Diesel Engine Day International Stand Up to Bullying Day National Banana Bread Day National Hospitality Workers Appreciation Day National Play Tennis Day National Rationalization Day National Rudy Day National Tile Day National Tootsie Roll Day Pinocchio Day Skip the Straw Day World Peace and Understanding Day Yukon Heritage Day Emily Blunt’s Birthday Desiree Montoya’s Birthday Dakota Fanning’s Birthday W. E. B. Du Bois 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.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Turns Out, Spiders Have Tiny Paws, And It May Change The Way You Look At Them Aren't spiders just adorable? Well okay, in most cases they're bloody terrifying, but that image might change when you take a closer look. As close as to where their feet should be, where you'll find that spiders have paws! Turns Out, Spiders Have Tiny Paws, And It May Change The Way You Look At Them | Bored Panda

February 22nd 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Birthday of Scouting and Guiding founder Robert Baden-Powell and Olave Baden-Powell, and its related observance: Founder's Day or "B.-P. day" (World Organization of the Scout Movement) World Thinking Day (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) Christian feast day: Baradates Eric Liddell (Episcopal Church (USA)) Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter (Roman Catholic Church) Margaret of Cortona February 22 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Crime Victims Day (Europe) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Saint Lucia from the United Kingdom in 1979. Founding Day (Saudi Arabia) Washington's Birthday, federal holiday in the United States. A holiday on February 22 as well as the third Monday in February. National Cat Day (Japan) Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details) 2Twenty2 Day Day of Fraternity and Cohesion Great American Spit Out National California Day National Chili Day National Cook a Sweet Potato Day National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day National Margarita Day National Walk Your Dog Day Play More Cards Day Recreational Sports & Fitness Day Supermarket Employee Day Tex Avery Day Woolworth's Day World Thinking Day World Yoga Day Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day Robert Kardashian’s Birthday Drew Barrymore’s Birthday Matt FamilyFunPack’s Birthday James Blunt’s Birthday Baby Kaely’s Birthday George Washington ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thu Feb 22nd, 2024 - Sun Feb 25th, 2024 EDSA People Power Commemoration Week Thu Feb 22nd, 2024 - Wed Mar 28th, 2024 Hong Kong Arts Festival Fun Observances ( 2 ) Single Tasking Day You may have been praised for your multitasking skills, but have you ever tried single tasking i.e. doing only one thing at a time? Try it on February 22, Single Tasking Day. The made-up holiday clearly wants to encourage people to devote all their time and energy on accomplishing one task at a time. Some people also celebrate it on February 19. Multitasking Lowers Productivity Recent studies have shown that multitasking - the ability to focus on more than one task at any given time, can be less effective and productive than previously thought. Multitasking can also decrease the accuracy of certain tasks. This is because when one shifts from one task to another, the brain needs time to change focus. This can lead to a waste of time and can cause a lot of stress. Time management can also become an issue for multitaskers. Increase Accuracy and Productivity Productivity experts suggest that the best way to accomplish something well is to direct all of one's energy and time on the task. Single tasking increases engagement and helps reduce errors. By improving productivity and accuracy, single tasking can help reduce stress and other health problems that are stress-related. How to Celebrate? Make a list of all the tasks you want to accomplish and go down the list one at a time. Cut off all distractions. Switch off your phone, block the Internet, close your office door, and get started on your list. It may be hard now, but when you are done, you will be proud of yourself! Did You Know… …that according to research only about 2% of people can effectively multitask? The rest tend to be less productive when they multitask. ~~~~~~~ Be Humble Day Practice humility on February 22 or Be Humble Day. Cultures, religions, and philosophies around the world stress the importance of practicing humility in our daily lives. The holiday promotes the idea that accepting our errors and our faults makes us better human beings. So, take this day to listen to others, not boast about one’s own life and achievements, and to accept that we have faults that we need to work on. How to Celebrate? Appreciate other people's achievements. Take the day to introspect and think of ways to make your life better and to move towards perfection. If you have children in your life, give them a lesson in humility and teach them that humility is a good virtue to have. Did You Know… …that the term humble pie, meaning to apologize after a serious error, comes from a mispronunciation of the world umble pie? Umble pie was a type of pie popular among people with little means in medieval times. *** Working as a secretary at an international airport, my sister had an office adjacent to the room where security temporarily holds suspects. One day security officers were questioning a man when they were suddenly called away on another emergency. To the horror of my sister and her colleagues, the man was left alone in the unlocked room. After a few minutes, the door opened and he began to walk out. Summoning up her courage, one of the secretaries barked, "Get back in there, and don't you come out until you're told!" The man scuttled back inside and slammed the door. When the security people returned, the women reported what had happened. Without a word, an officer walked into the room and released one very frightened telephone repairman. *** My older son loves school, but his younger brother absolutely hates it. One weekend he cried and fretted and tried every excuse not to go back on Monday. Sunday morning on the way home from church, the crying and whining built to a crescendo. At the end of my rope, I finally stopped the car and explained, "Honey, it's a law. If you don't go to school, they'll put Mommy in jail." He looked at me, thought a moment, then asked, "How long would you have to stay?" *** I was on duty as an emergency-room technician when a father brought in his son, who had poked a tire from one of his toy trucks up his nose. The man was embarrassed, but I assured him this was something kids often do. I quickly removed the tire and they were on their way. A few minutes later, the father was back in the ER asking to talk to me in private. Mystified, I led him to an examining room. "While we were on our way home," he began, "I was looking at that little tire and wondering, how on earth did my son get this thing stuck up his nose and…" It took just a few seconds to get the tire out of Dad's nose. *** While serving as chief medical officer at Fort Ritchie in Maryland, I attended a nearby wedding. Since it was a formal affair at a country club, I went in my officer’s dress blue uniform. Once at the club, I drove up to the entrance, where the doorman promptly came to the passenger door and assisted my wife out of the car. He then made his way to my side. But before I could get out, he pointed to the other end of the building and said, “The band entrance is that way.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Swansea Uni study: African wild dogs 'sneeze to vote' - BBC News *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 21st 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Armed Forces Day (South Africa) Birthday of King Harald V (Norway) Christian feast day: Felix of Hadrumetum Pepin of Landen Peter Damian Randoald of Grandval February 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Father Lini Day (Vanuatu) Language Movement Day (Bangladesh) International Mother Language Day (UNESCO) The first day of the Birth Anniversary of Fifth Druk Gyalpo, celebrated until February 23. (Bhutan) The first day of the Musikahan Festival, celebrated until February 27. (Tagum City, Philippines) Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details) Card Reading Day Language Day National Grain Free Day National Sticky Bun Day Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day Sophie Turner’s Birthday Solar’s Birthday Nina Simone’s Birthday Wendy’s Birthday John Lewis’s Birthday Giveon’s Birthday Blanket Jackson’s Birthday Alan Rickman’s Birthday Jordan Peele’s Birthday Jennifer Love Hewitt Kelsey Grammer *** Which windshield wiper blade always quits first? That's right—the driver's side. This happened to me one day while driving home in the middle of a blinding storm. Unable to see, I pulled over and tried to figure out a quick fix. I found it in a yellow cotton work glove that was lying on the floor. I wedged the cloth hand under the wiper arm. It did a great job keeping my windshield clear. Not only that— you'd be surprised at how many people waved back. *** Our Lamaze class included a tour of the pediatric wing at the hospital. When a new baby was brought into the nursery, all the women tried to guess its weight, but the guy standing next to me was the only male to venture a number. "Looks like 9 1⁄2 pounds," he offered confidently. "This must not be your first," I said. "Oh, yes, it's my first." "Then how would you know the weight of a baby?" He shrugged. "I'm a fisherman." *** We purchased an old home in northern New York State from two elderly sisters. Winter was fast approaching, and I was concerned about the house's lack of insulation. "If they could live here all those years, so can we!" my husband confidently declared. One November night the temperature plunged to below zero, and we woke up to find interior walls covered with frost. My husband called the sisters to ask how they had kept the house warm. After a brief conversation, he hung up. "For the past 30 years," he muttered, "they've gone to Florida for the winter." *** Our company gives out Thanksgiving turkeys to retired employees. All they have to do is stop by the plant to pick them up. A few days before the holiday, a retiree called to ask, “What time do the turkeys get in?” The receptionist, without thinking, responded, “Everyone starts at eight.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** A brief history of the Molotov cocktail *** How a British Officer Disabled A German Armored Vehicle With An Umbrella in the Heat of Battle *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Tuning Webs Spiders tune each strand of their web to a specific frequency by making some strands tighter than others so that when something is caught in it, the spider can easily pinpoint where it is. This is also used for determining whether the source of the sound is a food or a potential mate. Spiders Tune In To Web's Music To Size Up Meals And Mates : NPR

February 20th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Eleutherius of Tournai Eucherius of Orléans Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto Frederick Douglass (Episcopal Church (USA)) Wulfric of Haselbury February 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of Heavenly Hundred Heroes (Ukraine) World Day of Social Justice Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details) Clean Out Your Bookcase Day Hoodie Hoo Day Mizoram State Day National Cherry Pie Day National Comfy Day National Day of Solidarity with Muslim Arab and South Asian Immigrants National Handcuff Day National Leadership Day National Love Your Pet Day National Muffin Day National Student Volunteer Day National Whistleblower Reward Day No Politics Day Statehood Day of Arunachal Pradesh Women in Blue Jeans Days International Lego Classicism Day International Pipe Smoking Day Rihanna’s Birthday Trevor Noah’s Birthday Olivia Rodrigo’s Birthday Kurt Cobain’s Birthday Elmo O'Dwyer’s Birthday Cindy Crawford’s Birthday Charles Barkley’s Birthday Mitch McConnell Chelsea Peretti Ivana Trump Sidney Poitier ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tue Feb 20th, 2024 - Mon Feb 26th, 2024 National Chip Week *** At the busy dental office where I work, one patient was always late. Once when I called to confirm an appointment, he said, "I'll be about 15 minutes late. That won't be a problem, will it?" "No," I told him. "We just won't have time to give you an anesthetic." He arrived early. *** As a promotional gimmick for my restaurant, I send out coupons offering people a free dinner on their birthdays. One day an anxious-sounding man called. "I got your card. How did you find me?" "From a mailing list I purchased from a supplier," I told him. "Why?" "It used my real name, and I'm in the Witness Protection Program. What's the name of the company?" I didn't want to say it, but I had to tell him the truth: Moving Targets. *** My musical director wasn't happy with the performance of one of our percussionists. Repeated attempts to get the drummer to improve failed. Finally, in front of the orchestra, the director said in frustration, "When a musician just can't handle his instrument, they take it away, give him two sticks and make him a drummer!" A stage whisper was heard from the percussion section: "And if he can't handle that, they take away one of his sticks and make him a conductor." *** It was our first day on the rifle range at Lackland Air Force Base. I felt confident as I aimed and squeezed the trigger of my carbine for my first shot. “Good news and bad news,” my instructor said. “The good news: You got a bull’s eye.” Before my head could swell too much, he added, “But it was in somebody else’s target.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Egyptian authorities detained a stork last week on suspicion of espionage, mistaking its migration tag for spying equipment. In fact the stork was innocent - like a number of other animals falsely accused over the years of undercover work, writes Mohamed Madi. In 2011, Saudi authorities arrested a high-flying vulture on suspicion that it was flying missions for Israel's famously ingenious Mossad agency. And a spate of shark attacks near the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in 2010 was blamed by one TV station on GPS-controlled predators planted by Israel in order to harm the Egyptian tourism industry. Iran has also felt threatened by animal agents. In 2007 the Iranian army arrested a team of 14 "spy squirrels" found near a nuclear enrichment plant. Officials said they succeeded in apprehending the suspects "before they were able to take any action". However, not all reports of pets on patrol are as far-fetched as they seem. Animals have been serving in the military as early as 1908, when Germans first attached cameras to pigeons to take aerial photographs. Some programmes have been more successful than others. The CIA's attempt to implant listening devices into a cat - dubbed Operation Acoustic Kitty - ended in failure on day one, when the kitty was run over by a car outside the Soviet embassy in Washington DC. The project was estimated to have cost more than $14m. Another failed project was the equally outlandish Bat Bomb, tried by the US in WWII, where bats were strapped to mini-incendiary devices and dropped over Japan. The idea was for them to roost inside wooden Japanese buildings before bursting into flames. The atomic bomb ultimately proved more effective. Perhaps the most successful recruits from the animal world have been dolphins. The US and Russia have confirmed the existence of marine mammal training programmes, where dolphins and seals are trained to identify underwater mines and disable enemy swimmers. But just like young soldiers, dolphins have hormones, and can go awol. In March this year Ukraine's Defence Ministry had to deny reports that three military dolphins had escaped and were roaming the Black Sea in search of sex. *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 19th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Armed Forces Day (Mexico) Brâncuși Day (Romania) Christian feast day: Barbatus of Benevento Boniface of Brussels Conrad of Piacenza Lucy Yi Zhenmei (one of Martyrs of Guizhou) February 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Commemoration of Vasil Levski (Bulgaria) Flag Day (Turkmenistan) Shivaji Jayanti (Maharashtra, India) Observances (click on the day, BD or week for details) Daisy Gatson Bates Day Family Day Islander Day Iwo Jima Day Louis Riel Day National Airboat Day National Arabian Horse Day National Lash Day National Vet Girls ROCK Day Nova Scotia Heritage Day Presidents' Day Prevent Plagiarism Day The Day of Illustrious Puerto Ricans Tug of War Day U.S. Coast Guard Reserve Birthday National Hickey Day Royalty Johnson’s Birthday Millie Bobby Brown’s Birthday Smokey Robinson’s Birthday Cynthia Bailey’s Birthday Benicio del Toro ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mon Feb 19th, 2024 - Fri Feb 23rd, 2024 America Saves Week Take Your Family to School Week Mon Feb 19th, 2024 - Sun Feb 25th, 2024 National Eating Disorder Awareness Week National Pancake Week Cancer Prevention Action Week Fun Observances Chocolate Mint Day Chocolate Mint Day on February 19 is devoted to the classic combination of chocolate and mint Chocolate goes well with almost everything, but there is one chocolate pairing that is classic – chocolate and mint. So, it is only fair that the United States National Confectioners Association has declared February 19 to be Chocolate Mint Day in honor of this hugely popular flavor pairing. Chocolate Every Day Chocolate is a very popular theme for a fun holiday. Other chocolate flavored holidays are Chocolate Pudding Day, Milk Chocolate Day, Chocolate Pecan Pie Day, Chocolate Milkshake Day, Chocolate Cupcake Day, Chocolate Covered Anything Day, and Chocolate Cake Day. How to Celebrate? Introduce chocolate and mint pairings in each of your meals. Have a chocolate mint latte for your morning cup of coffee, or add chocolate chips and some mint to your cereal. Replace your main course with a big slice (or two) of chocolate mint cake, and follow it with chocolate mint ice cream. Did You Know… …that there is an herb called mint chocolate whose leaves taste like chocolate mint? *** While walking through a Dallas airport, my dentist ran into a group of folks from his hometown. Among them was one of his patients. When he said hello, she gave him a curious look, saying he looked familiar but she could not quite place him. "Lean back and look up at me," he suggested. She did. "Oh! Dr. Harrison!" *** My father’s secretary was visibly distraught one morning when she arrived at the office and explained that her children’s parrot had escaped from his cage and flown out an open window. Of all the dangers the tame bird would face outdoors alone, she seemed most concerned about what would happen if the bird started talking. Confused, my father asked what the parrot could say. “Well,” she explained, “he mostly says, ‘Here, kitty, kitty.’ ” *** Some newly married friends were visiting us when the topic of children came up. The bride said she wanted three children, while the young husband demurred, saying two would be enough for him. They discussed this discrepancy for a few minutes until the husband thought he'd put an end to things, saying boldly, "After our second child, I'll just have a vasectomy." Without a moment's hesitation, the bride retorted, "Well, I hope you'll love the third one like it's your own!" *** Concerned that he might have put on a few pounds, my husband exited the bathroom and asked, “Do you think my chin is getting fat?” I smiled lovingly and replied, “Which one?” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

As soon as I saw today's word my first thought was of Allan Sherman. Why you may well ask? Well, for several reasons. My Hungarian background, my love of Hungarian Goulash, that I have and still play his LP 33 Vinyl record album(that I bought in the sixties) entitled 'My Son the Nut'. Most of the songs on it, were and still are some of my favorites, I think many of you would enjoy hearing them too. But I digress, one song on there is entitled 'Hungarian Goulash'. Give it a listen and at (2:18) all will be revealed. Hungarian Goulash No. 5 - YouTube

(Was not able to enlarge this one)

February 18th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Bernadette Soubirous (France) Colmán of Lindisfarne Flavian of Constantinople Geltrude Comensoli Simeon of Jerusalem (Western Christianity) February 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Dialect Day (Amami Islands, Japan) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of the Gambia from the United Kingdom in 1965 Kurdish Students Union Day (Iraqi Kurdistan) National Democracy Day, celebrates the 1951 overthrow of the Rana dynasty (Nepal) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Cow Milked While Flying in an Airplane Day Daytona Pole Day National Crab Stuffed Flounder Day National Drink Wine Day NBA All Star Game Pluto Day Thumb Appreciation Day World Whale Day National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day Yoko Ono’s Birthday Vanna White’s Birthday John Travolta’s Birthday Hansol Vernon Chwe’s Birthday Dr. Dre’s Birthday Damien Prince’s Birthday Gary Ridgway ~~~~~~~~~ Sun Feb 18th, 2024 - Sat Feb 24th, 2024 Bird Health Awareness Week National Engineers Week National Justice for Animals Week Through with the Chew Fun Observances Battery Day February 18 is Battery Day. It is a day to acknowledge the device that makes it possible for the smallest household items to the largest heavy-duty equipment to work smoothly. The unofficial holiday of unknown origins is also known as National Battery Day in the United States Converts Energy A battery is a device that converts chemical energy to electrical energy. It is thought that the term battery to describe such a device was first used by Benjamin Franklin because the setting of the capacitator he saw reminded him of a battery of cannons. How to Celebrate? Celebrate the day by swapping out old the old, dead batteries from your household items. Take all the old batteries to the recycling center. Check your smoke alarm and fire alarm batteries and replace them if needed. Learn the history and science behind batteries. Did You Know… …that according to some archeologists and historians, the earliest known battery in recorded human history can be traced back to as far as 2000 years ago? Known as the Baghdad Battery, the battery is a clay pot containing a metal tube and a metal rod. It is thought to have been discovered in the basement of the Baghdad Museum by German painter and archaeologist Wilhelm Konig, who suggested that the artifact was probably used as a battery. *** Exchange your shivers for some giggles as we celebrate the spring season with some of our silliest reader submissions: Stop and Smell the Softener I had spent the late winter months waiting impatiently for signs of spring. When the first warm, sunny Saturday arrived, I eagerly unlocked the storm door and stepped onto our patio deck. I was pleased by the sight of green sprouts and the sounds of singing birds. More than anything else, I delighted in the sweet aroma of the spring air. Knocking on the kitchen window, I beckoned to my wife to join me in enjoying the pleasures of the season. She quietly brought me back to earth when she reminded me that I was standing over the dryer vent, inhaling the scent of fabric softener. Your Sunday Best Our daughter, an ROTC cadet, was ordered to Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania for field exercises. Since it was the Easter season, she requested permission to attend church services on Palm Sunday. The troops were in the field at the time, so the commanding officer agreed only if there happened to be a church in the vicinity of their maneuvers. When a small country church was seen along the road, our daughter entered quietly, hoping to be unnoticed in spite of her leaf-and-branch camouflage. But all eyes turned upon her as a small child cried in amazement, "Look, somebody came as a palm!" Spring Fever One spring day I was taking the roll in my secretarial class at our local technical college. One of the sun worshipers was absent. "Cindy won't be here this afternoon?" I asked. "She went home to lay in the sun," a young woman in the front row answered. Trying to correct her grammar without embarrassing her before the class, I whispered, "Lie." Okay," she replied in astonishment. "Cindy got sick and went home." Standby, Soldier Every Easter our church stages an elaborate pageant. Last year the man who played Pontius Pilate had to work on the night of the dress rehearsal, and a chorus member substituted for him. As we began rehearsing Pilate's solo, the conductor stopped the orchestra. "Pilate, I don't hear you," he called out. "You're not loud enough." "Pilate is at work," a voice on the stage shouted back. "We've got our co-Pilate tonight." Signs of Spring In Ohio, spring is always eagerly awaited after the long, cold winters. When I arrived at work one day in mid-March, I noticed a sign gaily decorated with flowers and butterflies. It read: "Think Spring." The first day of spring blew in with a snowstorm and freezing temperatures, however, and another flowery sign was posted. This time the message read: "Forget Spring. Think Summer." Sleepless Saving Time Twice a year, we change the clocks for daylight-savings time. And twice a year, my normally punctual assistant arrives late to work the Monday after we do so. I finally had to find out why. "Do you have a problem remembering to spring forward or fall back?" I asked. "Oh, no," she said, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "What gets to me is staying up until 2 a.m. to change my clock." *** I admit it—I have a tendency to exaggerate, and I was afraid when I joined the Navy that my “creativity” might get me in trouble. But my fears were put to rest one day while getting into formation, which was determined by height. Now, I was shy of six feet tall, but when our drill sergeant called for all six-footers to line up, I stepped forward anyway. I instantly knew I was in the right outfit when I looked around. I was the tallest guy in line. *** Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were dining in New York. Ginger was resplendent in a ball gown and pearls, and Fred also sported evening wear. But the meal was marred when the waiter bringing their desserts tripped and covered Fred from head to toe in treacle sponge. “I’m terribly sorry,” said the waiter. “So you should be,” replied Fred. “Thanks to you, I’ve pudding on my top hat, pudding on my white tie, pudding on my tails.” *** When the box with my Halloween costume arrived, it was empty. I called the company and asked where my Maid Marian costume was. “We’re sorry, ma’am. We’ll send your costume tomorrow,” the representative said. “In the meantime, feel free to keep the Lady Godiva costume you got by mistake.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

White-banded crab spider

February 17th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Seven Founders of the Servite Order Alexis Falconieri Constabilis Donatus, Romulus, Secundian, and Companions Fintan of Clonenagh Janani Luwum (Anglican Communion) Lommán of Trim February 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Independence Day, celebrates the independence declaration of Kosovo in 2008, still partially recognized. Revolution Day (Libya) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Analog to Digital TV Day Champion Crab Races Day February 17th Revolution My Way Day National Cabbage Day National Cafe au Lait Day National Public Science Day National Tennis Pro Day Who Shall I Be Day World Human Spirit Day World Pangolin Day Michael Jordan’s Birthday David Goggins’s Birthday Bonnie Wright’s Birthday Billie Joe Armstrong’s Birthday Alex Vargas’s Birthday Rene Russo’s Birthday Paris Hilton’s Birthday Denise Richards Joseph Gordon-Levitt ~~~~~~~~~ Sat Feb 17th, 2024 - Mon Feb 19th, 2024 Simplot Games Sat Feb 17th, 2024 - Sat Feb 24th, 2024 National FFA Week Sat Feb 17th, 2024 - Sun Mar 25th, 2024 Real Bread Week Fun Observances Random Act of Kindness Day February 17, is a day to practice kindness and pay it forward. The unofficial holiday is also known as National Random Act of Kindness Day in the United States. One-Sided Concern Considered to be a core value of most religions and cultures, kindness is the act of showing concern for others, loved ones and strangers, without any expectations of any consideration in return. Spreads Happiness and Health Studies have shown that being compassionate not only helps other people, but also makes one happy and healthier. People who are kind are thought to have lower risk for heart and blood pressure-related diseases. September 1 in New Zealand In New Zealand, Random Act of Kindness Day or RAK has been celebrated on September 1 since 2004. Other kindness related holidays one can celebrate during the year include Be Kind to Lawyers Day and World Kindness Day. How to Celebrate? Every day should be a day to be kind, but here are some easy ways to spread kindness around on this day. Smile at a stranger at your bus stop. Say "thank you" to your bus driver for driving you safely. Compliment a friend. Buy your co-worker their favorite snack. Help your neighbor mow their lawn. Pay for the groceries of the person behind you in the checkout line. Did You Know… …that randomness is a mathematical concept? In statistics and probability, a random event means that it cannot be predicted. *** 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.” *** Living in a household with eight indoor cats requires buying large amounts of kitty litter, which I usually get in 25-pound bags—100 pounds at a time. When I was going to be out of town for a week, I decided to go to the supermarket to stock up. As my husband and I both pushed shopping carts, each loaded with five large bags of litter, a man looked at our purchases and queried, “Bengal or Siberian?” *** One night while I was cat-sitting my daughter’s indoor feline, it escaped outside. When it failed to return the following morning, I found the beast clinging to a branch about 30 feet up in a spindly tree. Unable to lure it down, I called the fire department. “We don’t do that anymore,” the woman dispatcher said. When I persisted, she was polite but firm. “The cat will come down when it gets hungry enough.” “How do you know that?” I asked. “Have you ever seen a cat skeleton in a tree?” she said. Two hours later the cat was back, looking for breakfast. *** My 85-year-old grandfather was rushed to the hospital with a possible concussion. The doctor asked him a series of questions: “Do you know where you are?” “I’m at Rex Hospital.” “What city are you in?” “Raleigh.” “Do you know who I am?” “Dr. Hamilton.” My grandfather then turned to the nurse and said, “I hope he doesn’t ask me any more questions.” “Why?” she asked. “Because all of those answers were on his badge.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn (Todays' blog would not let me add any new jokes or pictures, sorry.)