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July 12th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Birthday of the Heir to the Crown of Tonga (Tonga) Christian feast day: Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (Eastern Orthodox) Hermagoras and Fortunatus Jason of Thessalonica (Catholic Church) John Gualbert Louis Martin and Marie-Azélie Guérin Nabor and Felix Nathan Söderblom (Lutheran, Episcopal Church (USA)) Veronica Viventiolus July 12 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Kiribati from the United Kingdom in 1979. Independence Day, celebrates the independence of São Tomé and Príncipe from Portugal in 1975. The second day of Naadam (Mongolia) The Twelfth, also known as Orangemen's Day (Northern Ireland, Scotland, Newfoundland and Labrador) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details Amazon Prime Day Battle of the Boyne Etch A Sketch Day MALALA DAY Mexico: Lawyer's Day National Different Colored Eyes Day National Eat Your Jello Day National Hair Creator’s Day National Pecan Pie Day National Tyler Day New Conversations Day Night of Nights Paper Bag Day Richard Simmons’s Birthday Kyle Forgeard’s Birthday Kristi Yamaguchi’s Birthday Donda West’s Birthday Brock Lesnar’s Birthday Ariana Fletcher’s Birthday Fun Observances Simplicity Day Simplicity Day is celebrated every year on July 12. The unofficial holiday commemorates the life, times and work of American philosopher and proponent of simple living, Henry David Thoreau. Born on July 12, 1817, Thoreau was against slavery, a supporter of small government, an environmentalist, and an author. He was also involved in the early transcendentalist movement in the United States. Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that emerged in the U.S. in the mid-1800s. The main idea of the movement was that humans by nature are inherently good and that knowledge can only be gained through looking inwards as well as outwards. Embrace Simple Living Simplicity Day was created by the Emily Fund an organization created in memory of Emily Rachel Silverstein. The unofficial holiday encourages people to embrace simple living and a simple outlook towards life. It also promotes participants to do one thing to make the world a better place. The holiday is also sometimes known as National Simplicity Day in the United States. How to Celebrate? Take a vow of simplicity. Cut out unimportant things in your life. Is there an expensive object you have always wanted to buy? Instead of buying it, donate the money to a deserving organization. Volunteer your time and money to a local organization working on a cause of your choosing. Learn more about Henry David Thoreau’s life and philosophy. Read books and essays written by him. Some of his more well-known works include Walden, A Plea for Captain John Brown and Paradise (to be) Regained. Did You Know... ...that Thoreau was one of the first people to encourage hiking and other outdoor activities for fun? *** A pig walks into a bar, orders 15 beers, and drinks them. The bartender asks, "Would you like to know where the bathroom is?" "No," says the pig. "I'm the little piggy that goes wee-wee-wee all the way home." *** I’m not the easiest guy in the world to get along with. So when our anniversary rolled around, I wanted my wife to know how much I appreciated her tolerating me for the past 20 years. I ordered flowers and told the florist to enclose a card that read, “Thanks for putting up with me so long.” When my wife got the delivery, she called me at work. “Where are you going?” she asked. “What do you mean?” I said. She read the card aloud as the florist had written it: “Thanks for putting up with me. So long.” *** Sometimes you have a mess on your hands that defies description. Not anymore. Clorox teamed up with comedian Carol Leifer to create The Clorox Ick-tionary, a Wiki-style dictionary for everyday messes. Here are new words that define slovenliness. Apocolipstick: The streak on your face when you’re bumped into while attempting to apply lipstick. Szechuan doodles: The pattern that your lo mein noodles make when they fall on the floor. Fridge-a-mortis: The liquid in the bottom of the vegetable drawer that hardens over time. Board-’oeuvres: Crumbs on your keyboard. *** A wife asks her husband, “Could you please go shopping for me and buy one carton of milk and, if they have avocados, get six.” A short time later, the husband returns with six cartons of milk. “Why did you buy six cartons of milk?” his wife asks. He replies, “They had avocados.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

‘spider tornado’ This guy live-tweeted the horror when a ‘spider tornado’ touched down in his car - The Washington Post Tent spider (isigonia sp, Anyphaenidae) Orb weaver with fake eyebrows, Eriophora sp. (from Ecuador)

July 11th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian Feast Day: Benedict of Nursia Olga of Kiev Pope Pius I July 11 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) China National Maritime Day (China) Day of the Bandoneón (Argentina) Day of the Flemish Community (Flemish Community of Belgium) Eleventh Night (Northern Ireland) Free Slurpee Day (Participating stores of the 7-Eleven chain in North America) National Day of Remembrance of the victims of the Genocide of the Citizens of the Polish Republic committed by Ukrainian Nationalists (Poland, established by the 22 July 2016 resolution of Sejm in reference to the July 11, 1943 Volhynian Bloody Sunday) Gospel Day (Kiribati) Imamat Day (Isma'ilism) National Day of Commemoration, held on the nearest Sunday to this date (Ireland) The first day of Naadam (July 11–15) (Mongolia) World Population Day (International) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details National State Fair Food Day All American Pet Photo Day Bowdler's Day Captive Nations Week Celebration of the Golden Spurs International Essential Oils Day Ker Puja National 7-Eleven Day National Blueberry Muffin Day National Culture and Senior Citizens Day National Mojito Day National Polyphenol Day National Rainier Cherry Day National Swimming Pool Day World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day Cow Appreciation Day Samantha Fekete’s Birthday Lil Kim’s Birthday Lisa Rinna’s Birthday Alessia Cara’s Birthday Fun Observances Cheer Up the Lonely Day Make someone smile on Cheer up the Lonely Day. Annually celebrated on July 11, the unofficial holiday aims to encourage people to give some of their time to make people who are lonely smile. Loneliness is an inevitable part of life. For some people, it can be temporary, and for others it may be a daily struggle. Loneliness can affect the young and the old, and people from all walks of life. It can be harmful to the mental, physical, and social health of those suffering from it. Bringing Cheer Cheer Up the Lonely Day aims to spread awareness about the damaging effects of loneliness and asks for people to give some of their time to bring happiness and cheer into the lives of those who may be lonely. How to Celebrate? This is one holiday that is easy to celebrate. All you need to do is make someone feel loved. If you know someone who could use your company, spend some time with them, make them their favorite meal, give them some encouragement, and let them know that you enjoy your time with them. If the person lives far away, send them a note to tell them that you miss them and that you think about them. Or what about sending them a little gift - perhaps their favorite candy or a bunch of flowers? Volunteer your time to work with the elderly in a nursing home - not only will you be bringing cheer in their lives, you may get to hear some amazing stories about their past. Learn more about the connection between mental health and loneliness and what you can do to ward off loneliness in your life and in the lives of others. Invite someone who has just moved to your town for coffee and cake and get to know them better. Did You Know... ...that some people can have a real fear of being lonely? Autophobia is the fear of being alone. *** Overheard: a mother bragging about her daughter. “She’s very articulate. She can draw anything.” *** I went with a friend to the country to look at a house he was thinking of buying. We found the town but not the road. We drove over to city hall, but no one there had heard of the road, not even the police or firefighters we asked. Finally, a young guy came to our aid. Pulling out a map, he showed us exactly how to get there. “Thanks,” I said. “Are you with the police or fire department?” “Neither,” he said. “I deliver pizzas.” *** While phoning a friend, my grandmother dialed the wrong number. She apologized and tried again, but she got the same number. Once more she hung up and redialed—same result. Now Grandma was frustrated. “Look,” she told the person on the other end, “I’m going to call my friend again. This time, don’t answer her phone!” *** On a trip to Sweden, I asked a few people where I could find some good local cuisine. “This is a pretty cosmopolitan city, so you can find just about any kind of international food that you’d like,” said one man. “But if you want truly local cuisine, get the meatballs at IKEA.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Duck Tape Card *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Spitting Spider with egg sag Spitting spiders are members of the family Scytodidae. There are several genera, of which Scytodes is the best-known. Spitting spider - Wikipedia ANT-MIMICKING SPIDER Spiders Blanket Fields in Webs to Avoid Flood-Waters in Australia

July 10th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Armed Forces Day (Mauritania) Christian feast day: Amalberga of Maubeuge Canute IV of Denmark Rufina and Secunda Seven Brothers Victoria, Anatolia, and Audax July 10 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Independence Day (Bahamas), celebrates the independence of the Bahamas from the United Kingdom in 1973. Nikola Tesla Day Statehood Day (Wyoming) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details National Kitten Day National Piña Colada Day Don't Step On A Bee Day Feast of St. Rosalia Global Energy Independence Day Gospel Day International Town Criers Day National Caleb Day National Pizza Day in Brazil National Stella Day National Transplant Financial Coordinator Day Pick Blueberries Day Political Flag Day Ronnie James Dio’s Birthday Perrie Edwards’s Birthday Kulture Kiari Cephus’s Birthday Nikola Tesla’s Birthday Karma Fizz’s Birthday Fun Observances ( 2 ) Teddy Bears' Picnic Day If you have kids in your life, take them out with their teddy bears for a picnic on July 10, Teddy Bears’ Picnic Day. Celebrated mainly in the United States, Canada, Australia, and in some parts of Europe, the origins of this unofficial holiday are unknown. It is also unclear what the holiday aims to achieve. It could be that the anonymous creators of the holiday wanted parents to encourage creativity among their children by taking them out for a whimsical picnic in the outdoors with their teddy bears and other stuffed toys. The holiday owes its name to a song of the same name by American composer John Walter Bratton and Irish lyricist Jimmy Kennedy. How to Celebrate? Take out the kids in your life and their stuffed bears for a picnic. If you have to have the picnic at home, what about setting a pillow tent in the middle of your living room and treat your kids’ teddy bears to a picnic? Did You Know… …that this popular stuffed toy was named after American President Theodore Roosevelt, Jr? ~~~~~~~ Clerihew Day On July 10 celebrate the Clerihew, a form of poetry that was invented by English author Edmund Clerihew Bentley. Commemorating Bentley’s birthday the unofficial holiday encourages people to read and write their own specific form of clerihews. A clerihew is a 4-line biographical poem usually featuring and making fun of a well-known person. The first line always includes the name of the subject. The poem does not have a fixed meter or line length and has an AABB rhyme scheme. Anatomy of a Poem In poetry, a meter (or metre if you follow British spellings) refers to a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line that is set in length (a verse). A rhyme scheme refers to the pattern of rhymes at the end of each line in a poem. To identify a rhyme scheme, each line in a poem is designated with a letter. Lines that share a letter rhyme have words at the end that rhyme with each other. It is believed that Bentley first came up with the clerihew at the age of 16 during a science class. The poem was about Sir Humphry Davy, a chemist. It was published in 1905. How to Celebrate? Read some of Bentley’s clerihews. Spend some time coming up with your own clerihews. What about featuring some of your friends, family members, and co-workers in some of your poems? Learn more about the history, art, and science of poetry. Did You Know... ...that the study of meter and rhyme in poetry and prose is called prosody? *** From the news: “Bob” was considered a star at the computer company where he worked. He made a six-figure salary and routinely received excellent performance reviews. And now we know why: Without his boss’s knowledge, “Bob” had outsourced his entire job to a company in China—for a fifth of his salary. He then spent his days at his desk playing games, shopping on eBay, and watching cat videos. *** A man walks into a restaurant and says, "How do you prepare your chickens?" The cook replies, "Nothing special. We just tell 'em they're gonna die." *** So a dog walks into a bar and asks the bartender, "Do you have any jobs?" and the bartender says, "Why don't you try the circus?" The dog replies, "Why would the circus need a bartender?" *** Two women came to my photo studio to have their portrait taken. My very young and very naïve assistant asked, “Are you two sisters?” “No,” said one of the women. “We’re partners.” “Ohhhh …,” said my assistant. “So how long have you ladies been cops?” *** *** *** *** *** *** I am so doing this tomorrow – Hot Dog & Pasta *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Spider silk is one of the strongest materials known, and the arachnids make it faster than greased lightning. Spider Queen of the Sonoran Desert - Aphonopelma chalcodes Tarantula - YouTube

July 9th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Arbor Day (Cambodia) Christian Feast Day: Agilulfus of Cologne Amandina of Schakkebroek (one of Martyrs of Southern Hunan) Blessed Marija Petković Everilda Gregorio Grassi (one of Martyrs of Shanxi) Martyr Saints of China Martyrs of Gorkum Our Lady of Itatí Our Lady of Peace, Octave of the Visitation Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury (Anglican commemoration) Veronica Giuliani July 9 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Constitution Day (Australia) Constitution Day (Palau)[42] Constitutionalist Revolution Day (São Paulo) Day of the Employees of the Diplomatic Service (Azerbaijan) Independence Day, celebrates the declaration of independence of the United Provinces of South America by the Congress of Tucumán in 1816. (Argentina) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of South Sudan from Sudan in 2011. Nunavut Day (Nunavut) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details Barn Day Call of the Horizon Day Fashion Day Martyrdom of the Bab National Don't Put all your Eggs in One Omelet Day Courtney Love’s Birthday Jack White’s Birthday Christina Haack’s Birthday Fun Observances Sugar Cookie Day On July 9, whip up a batch of warm, delicious, and sugary sugar cookies because it is Sugar Cookie Day. While the origins of this unofficial holiday are unknown, the day celebrates a childhood favorite that not only tastes good, but will also makes your kitchen smell amazing! A holiday staple in the United States, sugar cookies are sweet treats made of flour, eggs, butter, and sugar. The primary flavor in the cookies is vanilla. Blank Canvas for Decoration While sugar cookies can be eaten plain, they are usually used baked in different shapes and decorated with colorful icing, frosting, and sprinkels. In the United Kingdom and some other parts of the world, the term biscuits is used to refer to treats similar to cookies. How to Celebrate? Learn how to make sugar cookies and bake them. Share the cookies with co-workers, family, and friends. Gourmet up your cookies by making them in different shapes and coating them with different colored royal icing. Host a sugar cookie decorating and exchange party. Have your guests bake cookies and bring them to the venue, where all of you can decorate the cookies and take some home. Did You Know... ...that the term cookie, comes from the Dutch word koekje, meaning little cakes? *** About a year had passed since my amicable divorce, and I decided it was time to start dating again. Unsure how to begin, I thought I'd scan the personals column of my local newspaper. I came across three men who seemed like they'd be promising candidates. A couple of days later, I was checking my messages and discovered one from my ex-husband. "I was over visiting the kids yesterday," he said. "While I was there I happened to notice you had circled some ads in the paper. Don't bother calling the guy in the second column. I can tell you right now it won't work out. That guy is me." *** My friend Mark and I work in a lawn-mower-parts warehouse. Somehow Mark got the idea that his wife did not want a card on Valentine's Day, but when he spoke to her on the phone he discovered she was expecting one. Not having time to buy a card on his way home, Mark was in a quandary. Then he looked at the lawn-mower trade magazines scattered around the office—and got an idea. Using scissors and glue, he created a card with pictures of mowers, next to which he wrote: "I lawn for you mower and mower each day." *** The lingerie store where my aunt works was crowded with shoppers selecting Valentine's Day gifts for their wives. A young businessman came to the register with a lacy black negligee. My aunt noticed that the next customer, an elderly farmer, was holding a long flannel nightgown and kept glancing at the younger man's sexier choice. When it was his turn, the farmer placed the nightgown on the counter. "Would you have anything in black flannel?" He asked. *** One caller to Butterball's Thanksgiving Turkey Talk-Line had always cut the legs off the turkey before putting it in the oven, thinking that was how you had to cook a turkey. She later learned that the only reason her mom had been doing that was because their oven had been so small that that was the only way to get the bird into the oven! *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Actinosoma pentacanthum A small spiny orbweaver associated with floating vegetation, Brazilian Amazon Brazilian Jewel Tarantula, Probably The Most Beautiful Spider In The World

July 8th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian Feast Day: Abda and Sabas Auspicius of Trier Grimbald Kilian, Totnan, and Colman Saints Peter and Fevronia Day (Russian Orthodox) Procopius of Scythopolis Sunniva and companions Theobald of Marly July 8 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Air Force and Air Defense Forces Day (Ukraine) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details Be a Kid Again Day International Skinny Dip Day National Blueberry Day National Chocolate with Almonds Day National Denise Day National Freezer Pop Day National Ice Cream Sundae Day National Kathryn Day National Love Your Skin Day National SCUD Day Oneofusismissing Day Kevin Bacon’s Birthday Penelope Disick’s Birthday Jaden Smith’s Birthday Fun Observances ( 2 ) Video Games Day On July 8 celebrate video games on Video Games Day. It is a day to acknowledge the art and science behind video games and to appreciate the skills required to play them. Video games are games played by people on an electronic device that usually displays components of the games. Video games can be played on a computer, a console or an arcade machine. Part of Popular Culture Video games became a part of popular culture in the 1970s and 1980s when the technology to make the games and play them became affordable and easily accessible. One of the earliest arcade games that became popular around the world was Atari's Pong. Released in 1972, Pong was based on tennis. Today, technological innovations have revolutionized both the science and art of video games. People can now not only play video games on consoles and on their computers, but they can also play them on their mobile phones and hand-held tablets. Some people celebrate a similar holiday on September 12. How to Celebrate? Participate in local video game events and competitions. Play all your favorite video games with your friends. Have a video game party where you and your guests dress up like your favorite video game characters. Did You Know… …that the co-founders of Apple, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne all worked for video game giant, Atari? ~~~~~~~ Math 2.0 Day July 8 is Math 2.0 Day. It is a day to remind ourselves that math, or maths if you follow British English, is not just the boring subject you hated during school and college. The world runs on numbers and mathematics. Without mathematics, we would not have buildings or cars or airplanes or the TV or even the device you are reading this on. Indeed, math is the basis of almost all science and technology. This unofficial holiday is thought to have been created in 2009 and is a celebration of math and technology. It brings together mathematicians, innovators, educators, and policy makers around the world and aims to raise awareness about the importance of math literacy and education, both at the school and college level. Other Mathematical Holidays If you are a math enthusiast, there are several other mathematical holidays throughout the year that honor mathematicians and their work. Some of these include Square Root Day, e-Day, Pi Day, Tau Day, Yellow Pig Day, Pi Approximation Day, and Fibonacci Day. How to Celebrate? Spend the day solving some mathematical problems and telling math jokes. Many companies and universities organize Math 2.0 events. Attend one of these events and learn more about the intersection of mathematics and technology. Did You Know... ...that the word mathematics comes from the Greek word, máthēma, which means knowledge or to learn? *** Nobody wants a pain reliever that’s anything less than extra-strength: “Give me the maximum-allowable dosage. Figure out what will kill me, and then back it off a little bit.” —Jerry Seinfeld *** Did you hear the one about the claustrophobic astronaut? He needed some space. *** Did you hear the one about the 400-pound cartoonist? He was overdrawn. *** Did you hear the one about the knife-sharpener who quit his job? He couldn't stand the daily grind. *** Did you hear the one about the mime who went shopping? He only bought unmentionables. *** Did you hear the one about the convict who had an allergy? He broke out. *** 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?” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** “NYCs annual Greek Independence Day Parade.” *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

July 7th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Æthelburh of Faremoutiers Felix of Nantes Illidius Job of Manyava (Ukrainian Orthodox Church) Willibald (Catholic Church) July 7 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Solomon Islands from the United Kingdom in 1978. Ivan Kupala Day (Belarus, Poland, Russia, Ukraine) Saba Saba Day (Tanzania) Tanabata (Japan) World Chocolate Day Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details National Strawberry Sundae Day Alice Springs Show Day Comic Sans Day George Town Heritage Day in Penang Global Forgiveness Day International Peace & Love Day National Day of Rock ‘n’ Roll National Dive Bar Day National Dora Day National Father Daughter Take a Walk Day National Koi Day National Macaroni Day Star Festival Marc Chagall’s Birthday Sky Brown’s Birthday Cassidy’s Birthday ~~~~~~ (this one slipped past me, better late than never) Mon Jul 3rd, 2023 - Sun Jul 9th, 2023 Twins, Triplets and More Week Fun Observances Tell the Truth Day July 7 is Tell the Truth Day, a day dedicated to honesty and the rejection of manipulation and lying. The unofficial holiday encourages people to always tell the truth, even if it is often times inconvenient and hard. Honesty and truthfulness are virtues that are emphasized by all world religions. Cultures around the world put a premium on integrity and sincerity - people who tell the truth are always honored and celebrated over people known to tell lies. Tell The Truth Day is also sometimes celebrated on April 2, the day after April's Fool Day, a holiday that encourages pranks and harmless forms of lying. How to Celebrate? Celebrate honesty by telling the truth the whole day. If you have kids in your life teach them that lying is harmful and tell them the benefits of telling the truth all the time. If you have been lying to a loved one or a family member, today is the day to come clean. Did You Know… …that Benjamin Franklin is thought to have popularized the phrase "honesty is the best policy"? *** Seeing her friend Sally wearing a new locket, Meg asks if there is a memento of some sort inside. “Yes,” says Sally, “a lock of my husband’s hair.” “But Larry’s still alive.” “I know, but his hair is gone.” *** When my 15-year-old son, Pat, stepped up to the plate during a Colt League baseball game, the young announcer declared, "Now batting, the right fielder, number 12, Pathogen!" After some confusion in the stands, the announcer came back on over the loudspeaker. "Oh, I get it — Pat Hogan!" *** You’d die of embarrassment if these phrases appeared in your obituary: “She leaves behind a brother and 117 cats.” “Passed away in a failed stunt that has already been viewed more than 40 million times on YouTube.” “Was always quick to point out others’ grammatical errors.” “Survived by his parents and his animatronic wife, Elizabot.” *** I was diagnosed with antisocial behavior disorder, so I joined a support group. We never meet. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Cat face crab orb weaver, Aspidolasius branicki Kite orb weaver (Augusta glyphica) Assassin spider / Pelican spider (Eriauchenius sp.)

July 6th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) The first day of the Festival of San Fermín, which lasts until July 14. (Pamplona) Christian feast day: Maria Goretti Romulus of Fiesole July 6 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Constitution Day (Cayman Islands) Day of the Capital (Kazakhstan) Independence Day (Comoros), celebrates the independence of the Comoros from France in 1975. Independence Day (Malawi), celebrates the independence of Malawi from United Kingdom in 1964. Jan Hus Day (Czech Republic) Kupala Night (Poland, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine) Statehood Day (Lithuania) Teachers' Day (Peru) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details National Fried Chicken Day Eid-e-Ghadir Fast of Shiva Asar B'Tammuz - 1 Fast of Tammuz - 2 MHIP Day in Mizoram National Air Traffic Control Day National Daniel Day National Hand Roll Day Take Your Webmaster to Lunch Day Thirsty Thursday Umbrella Cover Day Virtually Hug a Virtual Assistant Day World Zoonoses Day Zion Williamson’s Birthday Sylvester Stallone’s Birthday Tia Mowry’s Birthday Ludwig Ahgren’s Birthday Kevin Hart’s Birthday George W. Bush’s Birthday Frida Kahlo’s Birthday 50 Cent’s Birthday Fun Observances World Kissing Day On July 6, pucker up and lock lips with your sweetie because it is World Kissing Da While the exact origins of the unofficial holiday are unknown, it is thought that it began in the United Kingdom. It has now become popular throughout the world. While kissing is one the most recognized gesture in the world, it holds culture-specific meaning and importance. In some cultures kissing between people of opposite sex is frowned upon while in others kissing is seen as a symbol of intimacy and is only reserved as a way to convey love. In many other cultures, kissing can be a sign of respect, greeting or friendship. Theories of Kissing Anthropologists and scientists have proposed two different theories of why humans kiss. The first theory is that kissing is a behavior that evolved from kiss feeding - where mothers fed their children chewed-up food through their mouths. The second theory suggests that kissing is an instinct that humans have had throughout the history of humankind. A study published in the journal, Nature, found that two-thirds of people tilt their heads to the right while kissing. This holiday is also sometimes known as Kissing Day or International Kissing Day. How to Celebrate? Steal kisses from your sweetheart throughout the day. Sometimes, the best way to tell someone you care is to give him or her a quick peck on the cheek. Also remember to avoid onions or garlic that day, unless you want your loved one to celebrate Avoid Kisses From Your Loved One Day! Did You Know… ...that kissing involves using 34 facial muscles? Humans have a total of 42 facial muscles. *** Here's what your e-mail address says about your computer skills: Own domain (e.g., @joesmith.com): You're skilled and capable. @gmail.com:When the Internet stops working, you actually try rebooting the router before calling a family member for help. @hotmail.com:You still think that Myspace is hip. @yahoo.com:You send e-mail chain letters saying that Bill Gates will eat your hard drive unless you forward this message to everyone you know. @aol.com: You phone friends to tell them about a neat website, then say into the receiver, "OK, go to … h … t … t … p … colon … slash … w … w … w … dot …" *** A graphic designer on the phone with his client. Designer: Hi. I'm just updating the copy for your form and was wondering if you meant to say "programs" for the third question. Client: No! What I sent along was completely accurate. Just copy it over exactly as it says. I'll explain it nice and slowly for you. Designer: "Please indicate which pogroms you've attended"? Client: Yeah, that should be programs. *** Even though there was a blizzard raging outside, I made it the half-mile to the bakery, where I asked the owner for six rolls. "Your wife must like rolls," he said. "How do you know these are for my wife?" I asked. "Because your mother wouldn't send you out in weather like this." *** As I was treating my daughter and her family to the buffet at a casino, all the bells and whistles for a winning slot machine began to go off. My seven-year-old grandson was awed. "Wow!" yelled Casey. "This is like Chuck E. Cheese for old people." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** An actual educated meteorologist *** *** This bison weighs 3,000 pounds! This bison weighs 3,000 pounds. The largest bison ever weighed 3,801 pounds. : interestingasfuck *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

July 5th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Bloody Thursday (International Longshore and Warehouse Union) Christian feast day: Anthony Maria Zaccaria, priest (d. 1539) Cyril and Methodius (a public holiday in Czech Republic and Slovakia) Zoe of Rome (Roman Catholic Church) July 5 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Constitution Day (Armenia) Fifth of July (New York), historic celebration of the abolition of slavery in New York in 1827. Independence Day (Algeria), celebrating the independence of Algeria from France in 1962. Independence Day (Cape Verde), celebrating the independence of Cape Verde from Portugal in 1975. Independence Day (Venezuela), celebrating the independence of Venezuela from Spain in 1811; also National Armed Forces Day. Tynwald Day, if July 5 is on a weekend, the holiday is the following Monday. (Isle of Man) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details National Bikini Day Foreign Slovaks Day Mechanical Pencil Day National Apple Turnover Day National Graham Crackers Day National Hawaii Day National Ian Day National Sylvia Day Pet Remembrance Day Work Without Your Hands Day Tavior Mowry’s Birthday Shohei Ohtani’s Birthday Pauly D’s Birthday Ryann Shane’s Birthday Brittyy44’s Birthday Fun Observances Workaholics Day July 5 is Workaholics Day, a day dedicated to people who spend all their time working and tend to ignore other pursuits in life. The unofficial holiday raises awareness about the fact that all work and no play can be harmful to the mental and physical health of workers. The day encourages workaholics to make lifestyle changes so that they give other aspects of their lives as much importance as their work. How to Celebrate? If there is a workaholic in your life, ask them to take the day off and take them out to do something fun. Perhaps a trip to a theme park or a hike? Make a nice meal for the workaholic in your life and tell them about the problems associated with working all the time. If you are a workaholic, take the day off to reevaluate your life and take some time off for yourself. Did You Know... ...workaholic is a portmanteau word. It comes from combining two words - work and alcoholic. The term was first used extensively to refer to people who excessively and compulsively work in the late 1960s. *** I finally convinced my mother that it was a good idea for her to learn to text. Her first message to me? "Whereisthespacebar?" *** In an attempt to balance work and motherhood, I delegated the grocery shopping to my young babysitter. But the job proved a tad daunting. One day while I was at work, she texted me from the supermarket. "Can't find Brillo pads," she wrote. "All they have are Tampax and Kotex." *** A man tells his doctor, "Doc, help me. I'm addicted to Twitter!" The doctor replies, "Sorry, I don't follow you …" *** During my time in the Navy, everyone was getting KP or guard duty except me. Not wanting to get in trouble, I asked the ensign why. "What's your name?" he asked. "Michael Zyvoloski." "That's why. I can't pronounce it, much less spell it." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ( One Space Was All that Was Needed!!!! ) *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Mouse Spider Mouse Spider Facts First of all, the term Mouse Spider names a genus of spiders containing 13 known species. Further, all but one of these evolved as endemic to one continent. The lone exception remains native to Chile, in South America. Four-spot Orb-weaver Spider The Tiger Spider, Bolivia's Own Ferocious Striped Predator

July 4th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Andrew of Crete Bertha of Artois Blessed Catherine Jarrige Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Elizabeth of Aragon (or of Portugal) Oda of Canterbury Ulrich of Augsburg July 4 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Birthday of Queen Sonja (Norway) The first evening of Dree Festival, celebrated until July 7 (Apatani people, Arunachal Pradesh, India) Independence Day (United States) Liberation Day (Northern Mariana Islands) Liberation Day (Rwanda) Republic Day (Philippines) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details Alice in Wonderland Day Caribbean Community Day Filipino-American Friendship Day Independence From Meat Day Indivisible Day Invisible Day Jackfruit Day National Barbecued Spareribs Day National Caesar Salad Day National Hillbilly Day National Karl Day National Sophie Day Official Birthday of HM King Tupou Zambia Unity Day Sophie Fergi’s Birthday Safaree Samuels’s Birthday Malia Obama’s Birthday Post Malone’s Birthday Kayden Gaulden’s Birthday Fun Observances Sidewalk Egg Frying Day July 4 is Sidewalk Egg Frying Day, an annual celebration of summer. While the origins of this unofficial holiday are unknown, it is clear that the creator of the day wanted people to venture out in the hot summer Sun and be environmentally friendly by cooking eggs using solar energy. The name of the holiday comes from the saying "it’s so hot you could fry an egg on the sidewalk." Many places in the Northern Hemisphere are hot enough during this time of the year for people to crack an egg on the sidewalk and cook it. Add some salt and pepper and fry up some bacon and you will have the perfect breakfast! We are kidding, of course. Please do not eat food cooked on the sidewalk! Bad Conductor of Heat If you do want to cook your eggs outdoors using solar energy, the sidewalk may not be your best bet. An egg needs to be heated to around 145 degrees Fahrenheit (62 degrees Celsius) to be cooked. Sidewalks unfortunately are made of concrete, which is a poor conductor of heat. This means that once you crack open an egg on the sidewalk, not all of the heat from it will be transferred to the egg, leaving it uncooked or unevenly cooked. If you really did want to cook an egg outdoors try doing it on the hood of your car or using a tin foil on which you can crack your egg. Metal is a better conductor of heat than concrete. How to Celebrate? The day is a celebration of summer, so if you are not in the mood of frying an egg on the sidewalk, what about spending the day next to the pool and cooling down with lots of ice cream or popsicles? Stay out of the Sun and make your eggs the traditional way – on the stove! Did You Know... ...that the city of Oatman, Arizona holds an annual Solar Egg Frying Contest every year? Contestants are given 5 minutes to cook an egg and can use objects like mirrors and magnifying glasses. *** My helicopter crew landed on a frigate in order to evacuate a sick sailor who, we later learned, was suffering from a skin infection called cellulitis. When we arrived, we asked a crewman what was wrong. Pointing to the stricken sailor, he said, "She has cellulite." *** These holiday "headlines" — concocted by the satirists at the Onion — are completely fabricated. And yet they have the ring of truth: -Coal Now Too Expensive to Put in Christmas Stockings -Study Finds Link Between Red Wine, Letting Mother Know What You Really Think -Accountants Pack Times Square for Fiscal New Year -Book Given as Gift Actually Read *** The insurance industry loves its acronyms. The first time I saw the term proof of ownership was in a client's file that read "Insured has POO on damaged items." *** Visiting a new port is always exciting, and when our destroyer docked in Kiel, Germany, it was no different. In fact, one of my men was awestruck. "Look, Chief," he whispered excitedly. "They have Volkswagens over here too!" *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Fossil spider inside amber Jurassic fossil spiders were a rare find, until the 21st century, when farmers in China began turning up Jurassic-period arachnids on a hillside. Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China Viciria praemandibularis female and spiderlings (Photo by Pen Araneae) On the bottom side of a leaf I saw this female Viciria praemandibularis tending to her spiderlings which recently emerged from their white egg sacs. There were about 25-30 of them. The spiderlings seemed motionless and the mother also stayed put, not bothered by my camera. I was surprised to see that the spiderlings look so different from their parents. The parents have slender abdomen. The spiderlings looked short and chubby with mint-green adomen. The parent are dark red for the male and orange-white for the female. They are quite a colorful family of spiders. It would be interesting to watch how the spiderlings' color and form change as they mature.

July 3rd 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Anatolius of Constantinople Anatolius of Laodicea Dathus Germanus of Man Gurthiern Heliodorus of Altino Mucian Peregrina Mogas Fontcuberta Pope Leo II Thomas the Apostle July 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Emancipation Day (United States Virgin Islands) Independence Day, celebrates the liberation of Minsk from Nazi occupation by Soviet troops in 1944 (Belarus) The start of the Dog Days according to the Old Farmer's Almanac but not according to established meaning in most European cultures Women's Day (Myanmar) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details National Stay Out of the Sun Day Air Conditioning Appreciation Day American Redneck Day Asalha Puja Disobedience Day Esala Full Moon Poya Heroes' Day of Zambia International Drop a Rock Day Mother's Day South Sudan National Chocolate Wafer Day National Eat Beans Day National Fried Clam Day National Independent Beer Run Day St Thomas History StartTheConversation Day The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul Tom Cruise’s Birthday Thomas Gibson’s Birthday PartyNextDoor’s Birthday Digital Farm Animals’s Birthday Cameron Hamilton’s Birthday Brooklyn Queen’s Birthday Adriana Lima’s Birthday ~~~~~~ Mon Jul 3rd, 2023 - Sun Jul 9th, 2023 Great British Pea Week Fun Observances ( 2 ) Compliment Your Mirror Day July 3 is Compliment Your Mirror Day, a day to encourage self-acceptance and to acknowledge that you are beautiful, smart, and strong. In today's fast-paced world, it is sometimes easy to forget to celebrate who we are and to take stock of the fact that we are unique and wonderful. Compliment Your Mirror Day is an unofficial holiday of unknown origins that inspires us to look in the mirror and affirm that we are special and beautiful inside and out. Raising Self-Worth Also sometimes known as National Compliment Your Mirror Day in the United States, this holiday is not just about outer beauty. It is about raising our self-worth and recognizing that we have a lot to contribute to our families, workplaces, societies, and communities. How to Celebrate? Compliment the person you see in the mirror. Tell them that they are awesome and an amazing human being! Be nice to yourself – treat yourself to something you have always wanted. Pamper yourself to a day at the spa or a day of quiet meditation or a long overdue vacation – you’ll find that feeling better about oneself can make everything else in life better. Did You Know... ...that ancient humans built mirrors using obsidian - naturally occurring volcanic glass? ~~~~~~~ International Plastic Bag Free Day On July 3, when you go to the grocery store take a cloth or paper bag with you because it is International Plastic Bag Free Day. Created by Bag Free World, a “global initiative that aims to eliminate the use of single-use plastic bags,” International Bag Free Day is an unofficial holiday that promotes environmental conservation by encouraging people to reject plastic bags. The holiday also raises awareness of the harm that plastic bags do to nature and to animals and marine life. How to Celebrate? Say no to single-use plastic bags. Take your own cloth or paper bag when you go shopping. Not only will you be saving money – several grocery stores give discounts for patrons bringing in their own bags, you will also be helping to save the environment. If you are crafty, make your own bag and carry it with style. Volunteer your time or money with an environmental organization that works on cleaning water and landmasses of plastic bags. Recycle all the plastic in your house and office. Spread the word to your family and friends. If you are a company, why not make promotional cloth bags to give away to your clients and customers? Did You Know… …that plastic comprises of around 75% of all marine litter? *** During a heartfelt chat with her friend about relationships, my wife sighed and said, "You know, if something happened to Lloyd, I don't think I could ever marry again." Her friend nodded sympathetically. "I know what you mean," she said. "Once is enough." *** As I shopped, the following announcement came over the department store's PA system: "If someone here has a convertible with the top down, it just started raining. Towels are located in aisle five." *** As I helped my elderly neighbor clean out his garage, I stumbled upon an ax in the corner. "That was my grandfather's," he said, picking it up and running his fingers along the blade. "Of course, it's been through three new heads since he last used it." *** My friend was working at an amusement park when a couple stopped him. "Excuse me," said the woman, pointing to a pond. "What is that water made out of?" Bemused, my friend replied, "Two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen." "See?" she said to her boyfriend. "I told you it wasn't real." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Green Pea Spider (Araneus apricus) Rainbow spiny orb weaver (Gasteracantha westringi) spider

July 2nd 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Aberoh and Atom (Coptic Church) Bernardino Realino Feast of the Visitation (Anglicanism; Levoča at Mariánska hora) Monegundis Otto of Bamberg Oudoceus Martinian and Processus Pishoy (Coptic Church) Stephen III of Moldavia July 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Flag Day (Curaçao) Palio di Provenzano (Siena, Italy) Police Day (Azerbaijan) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details Build A Scarecrow Day First Day of NAIDOC Week Freedom From Fear of Speaking Day Made In The USA Day National Anisette Day National Disco Day National Report Military Fraud Day Special Recreation for the Disabled Day World Sports Journalists Day Vince Staples’s Birthday Lindsay Lohan’s Birthday Saweetie’s Birthday Larry David’s Birthday Keith Morrison’s Birthday Jenni Rivera’s Birthday Canon Curry’s Birthday Alex Morgan’s Birthday Fun Observances ( 2 ) I Forgot Day July 2 is I Forgot Day. If you are you a forgetful person who frequently forgets anniversaries, birthdays, special occasions, or even to bring the milk from the store on your way back home, then this is the unofficial holiday you should be celebrating. Created by Gaye Anderson, the holiday encourages people to apologize and make up for all the events and occasions they might have forgotten in the past few months. How to Celebrate? Acknowledge your mistake and do something nice for those whose birthdays and anniversaries you missed. Some ideas include: making a nice dinner for them or sending them flowers. Write a nice apology note to your loved ones telling them how sorry you are that you forgot their birthday or that special occasion. Create an online reminder or calendar for all the special occasions in your life. That way, you’ll never have to forget a thing, except today’s holiday! Did You Know... ...that according to some studies, walking through doors can create memory lapses? Psychologists believe that this is because when people walk through a door from one room to another, the transition indicates to the brain that the scene has changed and all information gathered in the previous room or scenario is no longer needed. ~~~~~~~ World UFO Day On July 2, World UFO Day, bring out your telescopes, gaze up the skies and look out for Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). Also sometimes celebrated on June 24, the holiday was created by the World UFO Day Organization as a way to bring together UFO enthusiasts and to raise awareness about UFOs. Subjects of Conspiracy Theories While UFOs are usually thought to be sophisticated spaceships of alien visitors to Earth, the term UFO can be used to refer to any type of object or phenomena that has not been previously observed in an area. Most UFO sightings are easily explained by scientific means. Despite this, UFOs are a constant subject of conspiracy theories around the world. It is believed that the abbreviation - UFO - was first coined in the 1950s by Edward J. Ruppelt, an officer with the United States Air Force, as a way to replace the prevailing terms used for unidentified objects in the skies at that time. These terms were flying saucers and flying discs. How to Celebrate? Join a local UFO sighting organization and attend their events. Read more about UFOS and what they are. Have a UFO sighting party, where you get together with family and friends to spot UFOs in the sky. Did You Know... ...the oldest recorded instance of a UFO viewing can be traced back to 214 CE? *** For a romantic touch, I washed our sheets with lavender-scented detergent. When my husband got into bed, he sniffed. "What's this?" he asked. "Guess," I said coyly. "I have no idea," he said. "It smells like the stuff you use to line the hamster's cage." *** I decided to grab a burger at a drive-thru. There were no cars in sight, so I rolled up to the pay window. "We're still serving breakfast. And you have to order at the speaker," the clerk scolded. I drove all the way around the building to the squawk box and ordered a breakfast sandwich. "I'm sorry," she said, "we are now serving lunch." *** Our first stop as new recruits was the barber's. "Want to keep your sideburns?" he asked. "Yes, that would be great," I said. "Okay, I'll get you a bag to put them in." *** One day we were watching a game, when my mother-in-law shrieked from the kitchen, "Jim, there's a horsefly in here!" Not taking his eyes off the screen, he barked back, "Give it some cough syrup." *** *** *** *** *** *** ( I think we all know where our minds went ) *** I don’t know whether to be impressed or concerned that I understand this reference *** That's what they do in vet school... just like the nursing program. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

I might be a cranky curmudgeon, but this one really got me going! The grief he caused my all time and forever favorite Monarch (EIIR). Short story, I was in London (mid 70's), in a hotel bar (Union Jack Club), we were approached and asked if we would like to meet with Her Majesty, The Queen? I (we, three UN soldiers on leave) said YES and the rest as they say is history (this is a true story). Ever since, when I hear that old ditty "Went to London to visit the Queen" I get a bit misty. Back to our post. All I am going to say, is look up 'Randy Andy'.........! Rest In Peace, Your Majesty sandrewn (we shall never see her like again)

No info, but one of my favorites to date! African Mask Spider

July 1st 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Aaron (Syriac Christianity) Blessed Antonio Rosmini-Serbati Felix of Como Junípero Serra Julius and Aaron Leontius of Autun Servanus Veep July 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ (removed from official Roman Catholic calendar since 1969) Earliest day on which Alexanderson Day can fall, celebrated on the Sunday closest to July 2. (Sweden) Earliest day on which CARICOM Day can fall, celebrated on the first Monday of July. (Guyana) Earliest day on which Constitution Day can fall, celebrated on the first Monday of July. (Cayman Islands) Earliest day on which Día del Amigo can fall, celebrated on the first Saturday of July. (Peru) Earliest day on which Fishermen's Holiday can fall, celebrated on the first Friday of July. (Marshall Islands) Earliest day on which Heroes' Day can fall, celebrated on the first Monday of July. (Zambia) Earliest day on which International Co-operative Day can fall, celebrated on the first Saturday of July. Earliest day on which International Free Hugs Day can fall, celebrated on the first Saturday of July. Earliest day on which Navy Day can fall, celebrated on the first Sunday of July. (Ukraine) Earliest day on which Navy Days can fall, celebrated on the first Saturday and Sunday of July. (Netherlands) Earliest day on which Youth Day can fall, celebrated on the first Sunday of July. (Singapore) Armed Forces Day (Singapore) Bobby Bonilla Day (United States) Canada Day, formerly Dominion Day (Canada) Children's Day (Pakistan) Chinese Communist Party Founding Day (China) Day of Officials and Civil Servants (Hungary) Doctors' Day (India) Emancipation Day (Sint Maarten and Sint Eustatius Engineer's Day (Bahrain, Mexico) Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (Hong Kong, China) Independence Day (Burundi), celebrates the independence of Burundi from Belgium in 1962. Independence Day (Rwanda) Independence Day (Somalia) International Tartan Day July Morning (Bulgaria) Keti Koti (Emancipation Day) (Suriname) Madeira Day (Madeira, Portugal) Moving Day (Quebec) (Canada) Newfoundland and Labrador Memorial Day Republic Day (Ghana) Sir Seretse Khama Day (Botswana) Territory Day (British Virgin Islands) Territory Day (Northern Territory, Australia) The first day of Van Mahotsav, celebrated until July 7. (India) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details American Zoo Day Bank Employee Day (Guatemala) Blink 182 Day Dog House Repair Month Early Bird Day Hop A Park Day - 1 NATIONAL HOP-A-PARK DAY - 2 International Cherry Pit Spitting Day International Chicken Wing Day International Day of Cooperatives International Reggae Day National Baby-Led Weaning Day National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day National Financial Freedom Day National Gingersnap Day National Postal Workers Day National Television Heritage Day National U.S. Postage Stamp Day National Wrong Trousers Day Second Second Half of the Year Day Smart Irrigation Month The Day of Dombyra Virgin Islands Day ZIP Code Day Pamela Anderson’s Birthday Tate McRae’s Birthday Nick Austin’s Birthday Missy Elliott’s Birthday Liv Tyler’s Birthday Jack Avery’s Birthday Chris the Meme God’s Birthday Observances (Month) National Cell Phone Courtesy Month National Horseradish Month National Picnic Month National Ice Cream Month Plastic Free July Bank Account Bonus Month Sarcoma Awareness Month National Independent Retailer Month World Watercolor Month Fun Observances International Joke Day Not only does July 1 mark the middle of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, it is also International Joke Day. The unofficial holiday encourages participants to share their funniest and sidesplitting jokes with the world. While the origins of this rib-tickling holiday are unknown, one can assume that its creators wanted people to spread cheer, laughter, and happiness by telling jokes to everyone they meet. A joke is a written or spoken narrative that entertains, amuses, or generates laughter among readers or listeners. Creating Ties Humans have been telling jokes for a large part of their history. According to historians, the oldest recorded joke can be traced back to the ancient Sumerians in 1900 BC. Anthropological studies have shown that laughter evolved as a way for humans to signal friendship and as a way to create and strengthen ties with a group. How to Celebrate? They say laughter is the best medicine, so make people around you laugh out loud by telling them jokes. Organize a joke contest at work – the best joke wins a gag prize. Read joke books today and share your favorite ones with family and friends. What about playing a harmless practical joke on a friend or a colleague? Did You Know... ...that it is believed on average children between the ages of 0 to 4 laugh 200-300 times a day, while adults only laugh about 4-20 times a day? *** Take heed, scientists: Not every scientific advancement is Nobel Prize worthy. Some must lay claim to an Ig Nobel Prize, awarded by the Annals of Improbable Research magazine: The Prize for Physiology went to the report "No Evidence of Contagious Yawning in the Red-Footed Tortoise." The Prize for Medicine went to a study that demonstrates that people make better decisions about some kinds of things — but worse decisions about other kinds of things — when they have a strong urge to urinate. The Prize for Biology went to the discovery that a particular kind of beetle mates with a particular kind of Australian beer bottle. *** The topic for my third-grade class was genetics. Smiling broadly, I pointed to my dimples and asked, "What trait do you think I passed on to my children?" One student called out, "Wrinkles!" *** Needing to escape her hectic office, my friend fled to the mall, bought a candy bar, and then relaxed on a bench next to a businessman. Soon, she heard the sound of a crumpling wrapper and realized that he was eating her candy bar. When he went to work on an ice cream cone, she leaned over and took a huge lick. "There!" she declared. She then stormed off to her car, reached into her purse for her keys, and pulled out the candy bar she thought he'd eaten. *** Overheard at my garden-club meeting: "I never knew what compost was until I met my husband." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn