sandrewn

January 11th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Children's Day (Tunisia) Christian feast day: Anastasius of Suppentonia (Roman Catholic) Leucius of Brindisi (Roman Catholic) Paulinus II of Aquileia Pope Hyginus Theodosius the Cenobiarch Thomas of Cori Vitalis of Gaza (Roman Catholic) January 11 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Eugenio María de Hostos Day (Puerto Rico) Independence Resistance Day (Morocco) Kagami biraki (Japan) National Human Trafficking Awareness Day (United States) Republic Day (Albania) Carmentalia (January 11th and January 15th) (Rome) Prithvi Jayanti (Nepal) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Birth anniversary of National Artist Atang de la Rama Cigarettes are Hazardous to Your Health Day Heritage Treasures Day International Parity at Work Day International Thank-You Day Kosrae Constitution Day National Arkansas Day National Girl Hug Boy Day National Hot Toddy Day National Joel Day National Milk Day National Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day National Take the Stairs Day National Tara Day No Longer New Year's Day Paget’s Awareness Day Secret Pal Day World Sketchnote Day Mary J. Blige’s Birthday Kyle Richards’s Birthday Jania Bania’s Birthday Emmie Alice’s Birthday Alfonso Arau’s Birthday Alexander Hamilton’s Birthday Fun Observances Learn Your Name in Morse Code Day January 11 is celebrated annually as Learn Your Name in Morse Code Day. Morse code is a way to transmit text through a series of signals. Each character or alphabet in a language is represented by a sequence of dots and dashes. SOS First demonstrated on January 11, 1838 by Alfred Vail and Samuel Morse, Morse code soon became commonly used by the military and the aviation industry worldwide. Until 1999 the distress signal "SOS", or "··· – – – ···" in Morse code, was used to communicate distress by ships and naval vessels around the world. Although it does not stand for anything it has been remembered as "Save Our Souls" or "Save Our Ship". It was replaced by the Global Maritime Distress Safety System in 1999, but is still widely recognised as a distress signal today. How to Celebrate? Learn Morse code. Of course, learn how to spell out your name in Morse code. Don't have time to learn a whole new language? Spend some time on learning more about the role Morse code has played in society. Did You Know… …that the fastest Morse code transmission was achieved by Tarry Turner in 1942? He reached a speed of 35 words per minute. *** The speaker at my bank's drive-through window had been broken for weeks, and we tellers had to resort to miming or writing notes to communicate with our frustrated customers. One day a sweet elderly lady whom I would see every week pulled up to the window, leaned out of her car and smacked the glass in front of my face. "Hope this is bulletproof," she yelled. There had just been a robbery at another bank nearby, so I was touched by her concern. "It is," I yelled back. "Good," she continued, "because someone is going to shoot you if you don't get that speaker fixed." *** 1-800-WasteMyTime It was late in the afternoon, and I was putting the final burnishes on a piece of writing that I was feeling pretty good about. Yes, okay, it was an e-mail, but it was a clever one and I hated to lose it. My cursor had frozen. I tried to shut the computer down, and it seized up altogether. Unsure of what else to do, I yanked the battery out. Unfortunately, Windows had been in the midst of a delicate and crucial undertaking. The next morning, when I turned my computer back on, it informed me that a file had been corrupted and Windows would not load. This was followed by some mysterious lines of code, which I took to be my computer saying "Serves you right, careless pea brain" in its native tongue. More graciously, it offered to repair itself by using the Windows Setup CD. I opened the special drawer where I keep CDs that I have no intention of ever using. There was an IKEA how-to CD, which featured young Swedes assembling kitchen cabinets with nothing but a sardine can key and untrammeled wholesomeness. Mostly, there were CDs of music that my friends are always burning for me, unbidden, because they think I'll enjoy them. But no Windows CD. I was forced to call the computer company's Global Support Center. My call was answered by a woman in some unnamed, far-off land. I find it vexing to make small talk with someone when I don't know what continent they're standing on. Suppose I were to comment on the beautiful weather we've been having when there was a monsoon at the other end of the phone? So I got right to the point. "My computer is telling me a file is corrupted and it wants to fix itself, but I don't have the Windows Setup CD." "So you're having a problem with your Windows Setup CD." She had apparently been dozing and, having come to just as the sentence ended, was attempting to cover for her inattention. I recognized the technique from a thousand breakfast conversations. "We took that rug in weeks ago. Should I call the cleaners?" "No, thanks. I'm good." It quickly became clear that the woman was not a computer technician. Her job was to serve as a gatekeeper, a human shield for the techs, who were off in the back room, or possibly another far-off continent, playing cards and burning CDs for their friends. Her sole duty, as far as I could tell, was to raise global stress levels. To make me disappear, the woman gave me the phone number for Windows' creator, Microsoft. This is like giving someone the phone number for, I don't know, North America. Besides, the CD worked; I just didn't have it. No matter how many times I repeated my story, we came back to the same place. She was unflappable and resolutely polite. When my voice hit a certain decibel, I was passed along, like a hot, irritable potato, to a technician. "You don't have the Windows Setup CD, ma'am, because you don't need it," he explained cheerfully. "Windows came preinstalled on your computer!" "But I do need it." "Yes, but you don't have it." We went on like this for a while. Finally, he offered to walk me through the use of a different CD, one that would erase my entire system. "Of course, you'd lose all your e-mail, your documents, your photos." It was like offering to drop a safe on my head to cure my headache. "You might be able to recover them, but it would be expensive." He sounded delighted. "And it's not covered by the warranty!" The safe began to seem like a good idea, provided it was full. I hung up the phone and drove my computer to a small, friendly repair place I'd heard about. A smart, helpful man dug out a Windows CD and told me it wouldn't be a problem. An hour later, he called to let me know it was ready. I thanked him, and we chatted about the weather, which was the same outside my window as it was outside his. *** A customer walked into our store looking for Christmas lights. I showed her our top brand, but—wanting to make sure each bulb worked—she asked me to take them out of the box and plug them in. I did, and each one lit up. "Great," she said. I carefully placed the string of lights back in the box. But as I handed them to her, she looked alarmed. "I don't want this box," she said abruptly. "It's been opened." *** A snail named Samuel just got a raise working as a realtor. He decided since he got this money he will get a custom sports car with a big "S" on the side to show everyone the car is his. While he's flexing his new car down the streets of Los Angeles, he passes an elderly couple sitting on their porch. As he passes the man exclaims to his wife, " Look at that S-Car-Go!" *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

@Bill W This word come from the Latin nictare (to blink) and nictat (blinked). ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ever have one of those days? I think today is one of those. My first thought on seeing your comment was........... (Just a little bit worried)

@northie Thank you for lettings us know. Another friend lost. He always had a kind comment for me. This picture will always be my memory of him. http://jrt.org.uk/pictures/dr_wurT.jpg I just read his Chronicle for 2022, I never heard his voice, but can hear him as I read it. Chronicle for 2022 Richard, Fair Winds and Following Seas sandrewn

January 10th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Behnam, Sarah, and the Forty Martyrs (Armenian Apostolic Church) Gregory of Nyssa Leonie Aviat Obadiah (Coptic Church) Peter Orseolo Pope Agatho (Roman Catholic) William Laud (Anglican Communion) William of Donjeon January 10 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Fête du Vodoun (Benin) Margaret Thatcher Day (Falkland Islands) Majority Rule Day (Bahamas) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Houseplant Appreciation Day League of Nations Day National Bittersweet Chocolate Day National Oysters Rockefeller Day National Save The Eagles Day National Shareholders Day National Shop For Travel Day Peculiar People Day Poetry at Work Day Sisi Stringer’s Birthday Pat Benatar’s Birthday Rod Stewart’s Birthday Ben Azelart’s Birthday Fun Observances Cut Your Energy Costs Day Forgot to add being thrifty and eco-friendly to your New Year’s resolution list? Now is your chance to rectify that because January 10 is Cut your Energy Cost Day. Use this day to make changes in your daily life that would reduce your household’s energy consumption and cut down on your monthly energy expenses. How to Celebrate? Turn down the heat and the cooling when you are not home. Switch off all unnecessary lights when you are home. Walk or ride a bike to work – not only is it healthy, you will be saving $$. Carpool or take public transport to work. Take shorter showers to save on water consumption and heating costs. Did You Know… ...that using lids while cooking can reduce energy consumption by as much as 15%? *** How To Translate Work Emails I have a question. = I have 18 questions. I’ll look into it. = I’ve already forgotten about it. I tried my best. = I did the bare minimum. Happy to discuss further. = Don’t ask me about this again. No worries. = You really messed up this time. Take care. = This is the last you’ll ever hear from me. Cheers! = I have no respect for you or myself! *** I supervised an employee who had a negative view of everything 
I did. If I took a vacation day, I was “never there.” If I praised someone’s work, it was “too little, too late.” He eventually took another job 
but was fired six months later. Shortly thereafter, he contacted 
me, hoping to return to his old job. “Have you learned anything from this experience?” I asked. “Yes, I should have stayed here,” 
he admitted. “You’re too indecisive to have ever fired me.” *** “Has your son decided what 
he wants to be when he grows up?” 
I asked my friend. “He wants to be a garbageman,” 
he replied. “That’s an unusual ambition to have at such a young age.” “Not really. He thinks that garbagemen work only on Tuesdays.” *** My son was born while I was serving abroad, so he was three 
before we met. When I got home, I decided it was time for a little father-son bonding time. I bought him a 
toy razor and invited him to “shave” with me. In the bathroom, I took 
up my razor and started shaving. 
I looked around to see how my son was doing. His foot was up on the side of the bathtub, and he was 
running the razor up and down 
his leg. So much for male bonding. *** A police officer in a small town stopped a driver speeding down the main street. The driver said he could explain why he was speeding, but the police officer said he was going to put him in jail until the Chief got back, but lucky for the driver that the chief will be in a good mood because he is at his daughter's wedding. The driver said, "Don't count on it. I'm the groom." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Since I have nothing nice to say, I won't say anything at all.

@Backwoods Boy I am glad you checked it out. Nope, it really is, WONK Day! Just so everyone knows, that anything in black: be it day, week, month, birthday or event that is underlined, if you click on it, should take you to an explanation page about it (answers most of your questions). I use it quite often myself. Thank you for the comment, sandrewn

January 9th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Adrian of Canterbury Berhtwald Translation of the Black Nazarene (Manila, Philippines) Philip II, Metropolitan of Moscow Julia Chester Emery (Episcopal Church (USA)) Stephen (old calendar Eastern Orthodox) January 9 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Start of Hōonkō (Nishi Honganji) January 9–16 (Jōdo Shinshū Buddhism) Martyrs' Day (Panama) Non-Resident Indian Day (India) Day of Republika Srpska (Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, result of 2016 Republika Srpska National Day referendum) (note: not celebrated and disputed in wider Bosnia and Herzegovina, having been declared unconstitutional in 2015) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day Balloon Ascension Day Coming of Age Day Golden Globe Awards International Choreographers Day National Apricot Day National Austin Day National Carter Day National Cassoulet Day National Faith Day National Fourth Graders Day National WONK Day No Pants Subway Ride Day Play God Day Plough Monday National Gluten Free Day Wengie’s Birthday Sean Paul’s Birthday Toosii’s Birthday Quincy Boykins’s Birthday Richard Nixon’s Birthday Nina Dobrev’s Birthday Flo Milli’s Birthday Eret’s Birthday Dave Matthews’s Birthday Brent Rivera’s Birthday Fun Observances (3) Static Electricity Day January 9 is Static Electricity Day a day to honor this unexpected, mostly unpleasant, and sometimes hair rising phenomenon. Static electricity occurs due to an accumulation of positive electric charges on an object's surface. Shocks You! It is called static because the charge stays on the surface until it comes into contact with another surface with a negative charge. Static electricity can be created by rubbing an object against another. Some materials like wool and glass are much more likely to have static electricity. Dry human skin and hair also accumulate electric charges. This is why people tend to experience shocks when they touch doorknobs or anything made of metal during the winter time. Triboelectric Series The Triboelectric Series is a list of materials that are ranked by their ability to accumulate positive and negative charges. This shocking holiday is also sometimes called National Static Electricity Day in the United States. How to Celebrate? Learn more about what causes static electricity. Conduct experiments with the kids in your life to show them the causes and effects of static electricity. Learn how to avoid static during the winter months. Did You Know… …that lightning is a natural example of when sparks are discharged due to the buildup of static electricity? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Word Nerd Day Word Nerd Day is celebrated annually on January 9. Love your dictionary? Do you like long, complicated, fancy words? If your answer is yes, then this is the unofficial holiday for you. Learn New Words While the origins of this holiday are unknown, we assume that those who created it wanted word and language nerds to celebrate their expansive vocabulary, and for people to pick up their dictionaries and thesauruses to learn more about the origin, meaning, and usages of words in their language. Smallest Meaningful Unit A word is the smallest unit in a language that conveys a meaning when it is written and spoken by itself. When written, it has white space at its beginning and the end, but not in the middle. When spoken, a word is a form of speech that is uttered as a single unit. How to Celebrate? Are you a word nerd? Be proud of who you are. Use words no less than 7 letters long in all your conversations. Do crosswords and play word puzzles all day long. Spend the day learning about new words and finding occasions to use them. Did You Know… …that according to the Oxford Dictionary, “bookkeeper” is the only word in the English language without any hyphens with three consecutive repeated letters? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Clean Off Your Desk Day To honor an uncluttered, organized and clean workspace, the second Monday of January is celebrated as the Clean Off Your Desk Day. This unofficial and clearly made-up holiday encourages people to have a clutter-free, clean, and organized workspace. Increase Productivity Productivity experts and scientists agree that a functional workspace is important for having a fulfilling and productive work life. Clean and organized work desks allow workers to focus and to organize and process information. In addition, research shows that those who work within cluttered spaces tend to get frustrated faster than those whose workspaces are organized and clean. How to Celebrate? Clean your desk, of course! Take a few hours to organize all the paperwork that has piled up over the last year and to purge your desk and workspace of things you have no use for anymore. Shred any paperwork with any sensitive or personal information, give away duplicate office supplies, and file away important documents. And while you are at it, organize your PC or laptop desktop as well. Did You Know... ...that the word desk comes from the old Latin word discus meaning platter or plate? *** A Woman Shoots Her Husband For Stepping On The Clean Floor... A police officer jumps into his squad car and calls the station. “I have an interesting case here,” he says. “A woman shot her husband for stepping on the floor she just mopped.” “Have you arrested her?” asks the sergeant. “No, not yet. The floor’s still wet.” *** A Scottish mother visits her 
son in his New York City apartment and asks, “How do you find the Americans, Donald?” “Mother,” says Donald, “they’re such noisy people. One neighbor won’t stop banging his head against the wall, while the other screams and screams all night long.” “Oh, Donald! How do you manage to put up with them?” “What can I do? I just lie in bed quietly, playing my bagpipes.” *** To get my cousin to write to 
her even once, my aunt resorted to 
sending him a check with this note: “Do not cash until you write me a thank-you.” A few weeks later, the check had cleared, yet no message had arrived. So she called him. “I told you not to cash the check until you’d written to thank me,” she complained. “I didn’t cash the check,” he said. “I deposited it.” *** The new draftee refused to march with his squad. Instead, he rode his invisible motorcycle beside them while making motorcycle noises. After a few weeks of this and several psychiatric exams, he was given a discharge. He rode his Hog to the main gate, propped it up on its invisible stand and walked out. "Hey," called the gate guard. "You forgot your bike." "No," replied the draftee, "I'm leaving it for the next guy who wants to get out." *** This was the first & last joke before I tried to sign out. (2022) *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

January 8th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Babinden (Belarus, Russia) Christian feast day: Abo of Tiflis Apollinaris Claudius Blessed Eurosia Fabris Gauchito Gil (Folk Catholicism) Gudula Harriet Bedell (Episcopal Church (USA)) Lawrence Giustiniani Lucian of Beauvais Maximus of Pavia Our Lady of Prompt Succor (Roman Catholic Church) Pega (Anglican and Roman Catholic churches) Severinus of Noricum Thorfinn of Hamar January 8 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Commonwealth Day (Northern Mariana Islands) Earliest day on which Children's Day can fall, while January 14 is the latest; celebrated on the second Saturday in January. (Thailand) Typing Day (International observance) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Bubble Bath Day Argyle Day National English Toffee Day National JoyGerm Day National Man Watcher's Day National Snuggle a Chicken Day National Sunday Supper Day National Winter Skin Relief Day Show And Tell At Work Day The Baptism of the Lord Unknown Citizens’ Day War on Poverty Day Stephen Hawking’s Birthday Valkyrae’s Birthday Noah Cyrus’s Birthday Ryan Destiny’s Birthday Joshua Perez’s Birthday Gia Giudice’s Birthday David Bowie’s Birthday Anna Marisax’s Birthday Elvis Presley’s Birthday Fun Observances Earth's Rotation Day January 8 is Earth’s Rotation Day. The day commemorates when French Physicist, Leon Foucault, demonstrated the Earth rotates on its axis in 1851. To prove his theory, Foucault suspended a lead-filled brass sphere, now called the Foucault Pendulum from the top of the Pantheon in Paris. He showed that the plane of the swing of the pendulum rotated relative to the Earth’s rotation. You can now see the Foucault Pendulum demonstrating the rotation of the Earth in science museums around the world. How to Celebrate? Visit your local space and science museum to learn more about the Earth’s rotation and what effect it has on humans. If you have kids, what about making a model of the Earth and the Sun with them, so that they can learn more about the Earth’s rotation? Did You Know… ...that the speed of the Earth's rotation can change from day to day and from year to year? *** I said, "I love you so much. I could never live without you." My girlfriend giggled and asked, "Is that you talking or the beer?" I said, "It's me talking to the beer..." *** This man was really lonely, so he posted an ad on a popular website. The ad said, simply: "Wife wanted." He was surprised the next morning to find he had over a hundred replies in his inbox. Unfortunately, they all said the same thing: "You can have mine." *** A husband and wife had been married for 60 years and had no 
secrets except for one: The woman kept in her closet a shoe box that 
she forbade her husband from ever opening. But when she was on her deathbed—and with her blessing—he opened the box and found a 
crocheted doll and $95,000 in cash. “My mother told me that the secret to a happy marriage was to never 
argue,” she explained. “Instead, I should keep quiet and crochet a doll.” Her husband was touched. Only one doll was in the box—that meant she’d been angry with him only once in 60 years. “But what about all this money?” he asked. “Oh,” she said, “that’s the money 
I made from selling the dolls.” *** People act like the North Pole and the South Pole are exactly the same, but really, there's a whole world of difference between them. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

(If this is a repeat, my bad!)

@Backwoods Boy Reminds me of a mistake I made here in one of my posts, with reference to; ho verses hoe! Every so often, you might see me write that I have watch my Ps & Qs and also Hs. So now you know why.

January 7th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian Feast Day: André Bessette (Canada) Canute Lavard Charles of Sezze Felix and Januarius Lucian of Antioch Raymond of Penyafort Synaxis of John the Forerunner & Baptist (Julian Calendar) January 7 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Christmas (Eastern Orthodox Churches and Oriental Orthodox Churches using the Julian Calendar, Rastafari) Christmas in Russia Christmas in Ukraine Remembrance Day of the Dead (Armenia) Distaff Day (medieval Europe) Earliest day on which Plough Monday can fall, while January 13 is the latest; celebrated on Monday after Epiphany (Europe). Nanakusa no sekku (Japan) Pioneer's Day (Liberia) Tricolour day or Festa del Tricolore (Italy) Victory from Genocide Day (Cambodia) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Harlem Globetrotter’s Day I Am a Mentor Day I’m Not Going To Take It Anymore Day Mahayana New Year National Bobblehead Day National Pass Gas Day National Tempura Day Weston Koury’s Birthday Nicolas Cage’s Birthday Rand Paul’s Birthday Lewis Hamilton’s Birthday Lamar Jackson’s Birthday Clix’s Birthday Camille Rowe’s Birthday Blue Ivy Carter’s Birthday Fun Observances Old Rock Day January 7 is Old Rock Day. The unofficial holiday encourages people to acknowledge, celebrate, and learn more about old rocks and fossils. A rock is a solid mass made of minerals or mineral-like substances. Used for a variety of purposes throughout the history of humankind - as tools, musical instruments, weapons and for mining - rocks form the outermost layer of Earth. A Peek Into Earth's History While natural processes - volcanic eruptions and erosion - continually help create rocks on Earth, old rocks are especially important to those who study the Earth and its history. Old rocks hold many answers to the mysteries of Earth's formation - they can tell scientists about natural events that played a role in the formation of the rocks and the effects that event had on other life forms in the area. Old rocks can also sometimes hold fossils - the preserved remains of animals, plants and other organisms. These fossils can help scientists find out the kind of flora and fauna that existed in the past and what may have caused them to evolve or go extinct. Finding the Age of Old Rocks Geologists date old rocks using a technique called radiometric dating or radioactive dating. The process involves looking at the decay of radioactive elements available in rocks. The oldest rock of terrestrial origin to be dated using this method is a zircon found in the Jack Hills of Australia. Scientists estimate that the rock could be as old as 4.4 billion years. How to Celebrate? Learn more about the types of old rocks. Pick up a book about fossils and learn how fossils tell us more about the Earth’s past or visit your local natural history museum. Take a walk in the park and collect interestingly shaped rocks. Buy your loved ones some pretty looking rocks. And by rocks, we mean jewels. After all, diamonds are old rocks. Looking for a new hobby? May we suggest collecting rocks? Find rocks boring? Listen instead to music from old rock bands. Did You Know… ...that Petrology is the scientific study of rocks? *** Just because the items in these classified ads are free doesn’t mean they’re worth it: • Free: Piano with matching bench seat, very good condition, all keys work probably • Free: 5 kitchen drawers, all matching naughty pine fronts • Free Vain Screening • Free rent in exchange for elderly woman *** My three-year-old sat in the bathroom with me, watching as I 
removed my dentures and brushed them. After a few minutes, he asked, “Can you take your ears off too?” *** I’m now in high school, so when I ran into my third-grade teacher, I doubted she would remember me. “Hi, Miss Butcher,” I said. “Hi, Eddie,” she replied. “So you do remember me?” I asked. “Sure. You don’t always leave a good impression, but it is a lasting one.” *** Q. A man is washing windows on the 25th floor of an apartment building. Suddenly, he slips and falls. He has nothing to cushion his fall, and no safety equipment—but he doesn't get hurt. How is this possible? A. He's washing windows inside the building. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Mongolian Armed Forces - Wikipedia Mongolian Naval Force — Shipshub sandrewn

@Backwoods Boy No, but since I started posting these (MDMCs) just after midnight, my mind does seem to wander at times.

Six-Eyed Sand Spider Burying Herself (Sicarius hahni) - YouTube For anyone who is wondering... Sicarius Hahnii belongs to a very ancient clade of spiders whose fossils date back millions of years ago. Its also known as the six-eyed crab spider and is known for being extremely toxic. However, since it prefers dry sandy caves far away from human contact, death by its bite is very rare. My brain has never been more conflicted between "that's cute" and "get away from me". It's like a green stop sign.

January 6th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Armed Forces Day (Iraq) Christian Feast day: André Bessette (Roman Catholic Church) January 6 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Christmas: Christmas (Armenian Apostolic Church) Christmas Eve (Russia) Christmas Eve (Ukraine) Christmas Eve (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Christmas Eve (North Macedonia) Epiphany or Three Kings' Day (Western Christianity) or Theophany (Eastern Christianity), and its related observances: Befana Day (Italy) Little Christmas (Ireland) Þrettándinn (Iceland) Pathet Lao Day (Laos) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Walker’s Shortbread Day Apple Tree Day Day of Los Reyes Dry Bean Day National Cuddle Up Day National Davis Day National Samantha Day National Shortbread Day National Smith Day National Take a Poet to Lunch Day National Take Down the Christmas Tree Day Uruguay Children's Day/Ephiphany World Day for War Orphans Rowan Atkinson’s Birthday Tiffany Pollard’s Birthday Polo G’s Birthday Ree Drummond’s Birthday MattyB’s Birthday Norman Reedus’s Birthday Joan of Arc’s Birthday Keyshia Ka'oir’s Birthday Jay B’s Birthday Irina Shayk’s Birthday Hilaria Thomas Baldwin’s Birthday Eric Trump’s Birthday Arin Hanson’s Birthday Fun Observances Bean Day January 6 is Bean Day. If your question after hearing this is, why? Well, because beans are healthy – they are rich in proteins and fiber and they taste good. Some believe that this unofficial holiday, which is also known as Nation Bean Day in the United States, was created to commemorate the death anniversary of scientist Gregor Mendel. Known as the Father of Genetics, Mendel experimented on peas to discover the laws of genetic inheritance. Many Varieties Although many people around the world consider peas as part of the beans family, they are not technically beans. Botanists classify peas and snap peas as vegetables. Beans have been consumed by humans since ancient times. They are a natural source of proteins, fibers and vitamins and have a small environmental footprint. Today, there are 40,000 known varieties of beans around the world. Only a few of these are cultivated for human consumption. How to Celebrate? This is easy, have beans for every meal: baked beans for breakfast, red beans and rice for lunch, and bean soup for dinner. For dessert, have jelly beans, even though technically they are not beans. Make bean art. Use different colored beans to make pictures. Did You Know… ...that the leaves of a bean plant tilt towards the Sun in the day and fold up during the night? *** Here's my favorite dad joke, with me as the dad: Every Sunday on the way to church, we would have to stop at a railroad crossing. And each time, I’d tell my 12-year-old daughter, “A train just went by. Know how I can tell? It left its tracks.” I got a moan the first couple of Sundays. After a while, every time we’d pull up to the crossing, all I had to do was look in the rearview mirror and she would smile. My daughter is now a college graduate and lives out of state, but every time I cross those tracks, I think of her. *** My dad was not a jokester, but his fun side did come out once in a while. When I was 12, he took me to a Chicago White Sox game with a group from a local tavern. The game between the Sox and the Indians was in the ninth inning, with the Sox ahead by a run. I was having so much fun, I said, “I hope the Indians tie the game in the ninth.” The die-hard Sox fans we were with were horrified, but not Dad. He started cheering for the Indians to score, even as the men yelled, “Cut it out; you’re a Sox fan!” The Sox ended up winning, everyone was happy, and my dad and I laughed all the way home. I miss him tremendously. *** My father and I were in the snowplow he drove for work when I saw a switch encased in a box. “What’s this for?” I asked. “It’s to turn red lights green,” he replied. As we reached a red light, he pointed to the box. “Try it.” I hit the switch, and it worked—the light turned green! Only much later did I find out that it was his garage-door opener. *** Q. A prisoner is forced to go into one of three rooms, but he can choose which room. The first room is ablaze with fire. The second one is rigged with explosives that will go off as soon as he enters. The third contains a pair of lions who haven't eaten in years. Which room should he choose to survive? A. The third room—any lions who hadn't eaten in years would be dead! *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

January 5th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian Feast day: Charles of Mount Argus John Neumann (Catholic Church) Pope Telesphorus Simeon Stylites (Latin Church) January 5 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival (Harbin, China) Joma Shinji (Japan) The Twelfth day of Christmas and the Twelfth Night of Christmas. (Western Christianity) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Carver Day Day of Dialogue National Ellen Day National Keto Day National Screenwriters Day National Whipped Cream Day Kristin Cavallari’s Birthday Diane Keaton’s Birthday Hayao Miyazaki’s Birthday Bradley Cooper’s Birthday Fun Observances Bird Day January 5 is Bird Day, a day to think about birds in captivity and to take action to ensure that birds are not exploited and are treated humanely. The day, started by Born Free U.S.A. and the Avian Welfare Coalition, aims to focus public attention on the fact that almost 12 per cent of bird species around the world are under threat of extinction. How to Celebrate? Read more about bird pet adoptions and laws in your country about adopting exotic birds as pets. Do due diligence when getting an exotic or imported bird as a pet. Use only well-reputed pet stores. Spread the word about humanely caring for exotic pet birds. Change your social media display picture to a picture of your favorite bird. Go bird watching and learn more about the birds indigenous to your area. Did You Know… …that hummingbirds lay the smallest eggs - the size of a pea - among birds? *** A frightened man goes to the secret police and says, “My talking parrot disappeared.” “Why did you come here? Go to the regular police.” “I will. I’m just here to tell you that I disagree with whatever that parrot is going to say.” *** A welsh politician asked the government for information about UFO sightings and if it might fund UFO research. Officials wrote back, “jang vIDa je due luq … ach ghotvam’e’ QI’yaH devolve qaS.” Which means, “The minister will reply in due course. However, this is a non-devolved 
matter,” in Klingon. *** The star of Cake Boss was 
arrested for DWI. Police interrogated him for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. *** Recently I heard the former mayor of Reading, Pennsylvania, 
recount some funny stories about his time in office. One happened while he was running for reelection; he was in a bar and paid for a 
woman’s drink. She thanked him but wondered why a stranger had 
bought her a beer. “I’m running for mayor,” he told her, “and I want your vote.” “You got it,” she said, grabbing her glass. “Anyone’s better than the jerk who’s in there now.” *** Names For Groups You Never Knew A pride of lions, a gaggle of geese … and here’s how we might classify these groups: • A brat of boys • A giggle of girls • A stagger of drunks • A tedium of accountants • A stitch of doctors • A whine of losers • A jerk of politicians *** Q. A horse attached to a 24-foot chain sees an apple 26 feet away. How can the horse reach the apple? A. The horse just walks over to it, taking the chain with him—the chain isn't attached to anything! *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Never said I was perfect or always right. So I went checking also, didn't find (or at least not realize what I was missing). Then it hit me, you're an 'AUTHOR' and Cliffhanger is one of your tools of trade and I am hooked.

Alice Cooper - Welcome To My Nightmare (Official Audio) - YouTube Ear Spider Infestation Spiders living in someone's ear might sound like an urban legend, and many of the pictures you'll find of the supposed condition are doctored. However, there are recorded cases of spiders being found lodged in the ears of both humans and animals. Spiders don't typically seek out ears, noses, or mouths to crawl into. But when it does happen, the accounts are genuinely unnerving. People describe the scratching sounds they hear as the spider tries to move, and mention unexplained headaches and ear pain. Even though it's very unlikely to ever happen to you, it's awful to think about.

January 4th 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Angela of Foligno Elizabeth Ann Seton Ferréol of Uzès Mavilus Pharaildis of Ghent Rigobert January 4 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) The eleventh of the Twelve Days of Christmas. (Western Christianity) Independence Day (Myanmar), celebrates the independence of Myanmar from the United Kingdom in 1948. Colonial Martyrs Repression Day (Angola) Day of the Martyrs (Democratic Republic of the Congo) Ogoni Day (Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People) Tokyo Dome Show: The annual Wrestle Kingdom event run by New Japan Pro-Wrestling World Braille Day Observances (click on the day or week for details) Dimpled Chad Day Earth at Perihelion Free Flower Basket Day National CanDo Day National Clara Day National Missouri Day National Rachel Day National Spaghetti Day Perihelion Day Pop Music Chart Day Tom Thumb Day Weigh-In Day World Hypnotism Day Martell Holt’s Birthday Kris Bryant’s Birthday Isaac Newton’s Birthday Jeannie Mai’s Birthday Dafne Keen’s Birthday Fun Observances Trivia Day Here is some trivia for you - January 4 is Trivia Day. The day celebrates information of little value and the individuals who not only remember these bits and pieces of useless information but also enjoy sharing them with others. Latin Term The word trivia comes from the Latin term for the intersection of three paths. In the Middle Ages, the word came to refer to the subjects - rhetoric, grammar, and logic - studied by those who followed the Liberal Arts field. Of Little Importance The modern day usage of the word trivia to mean something of little importance can be traced back to the publishing of the book - Trivialities, Bits of Information of Little Consequence - by British author Logan Pearsall Smith in 1902. Knowing and sharing trivia as a hobby and a pastime, however, did not become popular until the 1960s when the weekly newspaper of Columbia University, the Columbia Daily Spectator, published a trivia game on February 5, 1965. Soon, trivia became a popular game played at parties and at a competitive level. Trivia Day is also sometimes known as National Trivia Day in the United States. How to Celebrate? Gather up some friends and play Trivial Pursuit. Call friends and family and enlighten them with some trivia. Even better, stop random people and start a conversation with “did you know...?” You may even make some friends. Participate in a trivia night or spend the day filling your brains with more random trivia. Did You Know… …that the term factoid, which is now used as a synonym of trivia originally referred to a piece of unreliable information that is accepted as a fact because it is repeated very often? *** My great-aunt looked confused when I told her that my daughter was 18 months old. “Oh,” she said. “I thought she was a year and a half.” “But Aunt Marie," I said, “18 months and a year and a half are the same.” She shrugged. “What do I know? I never had kids.” *** During a high school visit to France, I stayed with a French family. One night, I was unsure what the meat on my dinner plate was, so I pointed to it and asked in my best 11th-grade French: “Qui est-ce?” The family’s expressions told me I needed some tutoring. Instead of asking “What is it?” as I had intended, I’d asked “Who is it?” *** My wife and I run a small restaurant where we often name our specials after our employees—dishes like "Chicken Mickey," after our dishwasher who gave us the recipe, and "Rod's Ribs," after a waiter who had his personal style of barbecue. One evening after rereading the menu, I broke with this tradition and changed the description of the special we had named after our chef. Despite her skills and excellent reputation, somehow I didn't think an entrée named "Salmon Ella" would go over big with our customers. *** You know you're a mom when... ...picking up another human to smell their butt is not only normal but totally necessary *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Did you know? There’s A Tarantula Named After Johnny Cash Most people will not be aware that there is a newly discovered tarantula named after Johnny Cash. Named Aphonopelma johnnycashi after the famous country singer, the tarantula features several characteristics that led researchers to give it "the Man in Black"'s monikor. Its furry black coat reminded the discoverers of Cash's signature black wardrobe. Furthermore, it lives near the Folsom State Prison in California, the location that inspired one of Cash's hit songs.

January 3rd 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Anniversary of the 1966 Coup d'état (Burkina Faso) Christian feast day: Daniel of Padua Genevieve Holy Name of Jesus Kuriakose Elias Chavara (Syro-Malabar Catholic Church) Pope Anterus William Passavant (Episcopal Church) January 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Ministry of Religious Affairs Day (Indonesia) Tamaseseri Festival (Hakozaki Shrine, Fukuoka, Japan) The tenth of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity) Observances (click on the day or week for details) JRR Tolkien Day National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day Drinking Straw Day Humiliation Day International Mind-Body Wellness Day Memento Mori "Remember You Die" Day National Write to Congress Day Women Rock! Day Raegan Revord’s Birthday Lloyd Polite’s Birthday Mel Gibson’s Birthday Katie Thurston’s Birthday Jisoo Kim’s Birthday J.R.R. Tolkien’s Birthday Greta Thunberg’s Birthday Erick Brian Colón’s Birthday Então Roberta?’s Birthday Katie McGrath’s Birthday Fun Observances (2) Fruitcake Toss Day Fruitcake Toss Day on January 3 is an annual holiday that celebrates fruitcakes - the gift that keeps on giving - by tossing them in an empty space The holidays can be a stressful time and can make the calmest person want to toss something in anger. Well, fear not, collect all that dense, unwanted fruitcake that everyone and their sisters brought to your holiday party and toss them on Fruitcake Toss Day. It is thought that this holiday was first created and celebrated in Manitou Springs, Colorado, in 1995. How to Celebrate? Collect all the fruitcake you can. Find an empty space, and start tossing your fruitcakes. Feeling competitive? Compete for the highest or farthest throw. Fruitcakes are sometimes known as the gift that gives on giving, referring to a practice of re-gifting fruitcakes during the holiday season. So, instead of tossing fruitcakes, why not share them with family, friends, and colleagues? Did You Know… …that fruitcakes that contain alcohol have a long shelf life? Because of this, the fruitcake was the snack of choice for travelers and winter dwellers in the days of no refrigeration. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Festival of Sleep Day Take a break on January 3 or Festival of Sleep Day by sleeping in, taking naps or just staying in bed the whole day long. While the origins of this unofficial holiday are unknown, we assume that the holiday encourages people to catch up on their sleep post-holiday and New Year celebrations. Important Sleep Sleep is one of the most common and important human activity. Sleep allows human bodies to rest, heal, develop and can help memory processing and preservation. Lack of sleep or poor sleep can have multiple negative effects on the human body and mind. How to Celebrate? This one is straightforward. Get into your favorite PJs, crawl into bed and get out only when you want to. They say that clean bed linen and an uncluttered and temperature controlled environment facilitates good sleep. Take stock of your sleeping environment on this day, and fix anything you think may be affecting your sleep. Need more rest? Try Public Sleeping Day in February. Did You Know… …that an irrational fear of sleep is known as Somniphobia? *** A man vacations on a tropical 
island, and the first thing he hears 
is drums. He goes to the beach 
and hears the drums; he eats lunch, he hears the drums; he tries to sleep, he can’t—drums. Finally he storms over to the manager. “I’ve had it! Can’t you stop those drums?” he begs. “No!” says the manager. “It’s very bad if the drums stop.” “Why?” “When the drums stop, the bass solo begins.” *** My flight was delayed in Houston. Since the gate was needed for another flight, our aircraft was backed away from the terminal, and we were directed to a new gate. We all found the new gate, only to discover a third gate had been designated for our plane. Finally, everyone got on board the right plane, and the flight attendant announced: "We apologize for the gate change. This flight is going to Washington, D.C. If your destination is not Washington, D.C., you should deplane at this time." A moment later a red-faced pilot emerged from the cockpit, carrying his bags. "Sorry," he said, "wrong plane." *** I couldn't decide whether to go to Salt Lake City or Denver for vacation, so I called the airlines to get prices. "Airfare to Denver is $300," the cheery salesperson replied. "And what about Salt Lake City?" "We have a really great rate to Salt Lake—$99," she said "But there is a stopover." "Where?" "In Denver," she said. *** Q. There's a one-story house where everything inside is pink: pink walls, pink doors, pink floors, pink ceilings, pink windows, pink curtains, pink chairs, and pink tables. What color are the stairs? A. There are none—it's a one-story house! *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

Rather than find and repeat that post, I found this one. Be advised not all may want to watch this one. GOLIATH BIRD EATER VS. MOUSE [HD] WARNING! - YouTube ....

January 2nd 2023 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Ancestry Day (Haiti) Berchtold's Day (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) Carnival Day (Saint Kitts and Nevis) Christian feast day: Basil the Great (Catholic Church and Church of England) Defendens of Thebes Earliest day on which the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is observed, while January 5 is the latest; celebrated on Sunday between January 2 and 5. (Roman Catholic Church, 1960 calendar) Gregory of Nazianzus (Catholic Church) Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe (Lutheran Church) Macarius of Alexandria Seraphim of Sarov (repose) (Eastern Orthodox Church) Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah (Episcopal Church) January 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Nyinlong (Bhutan) The first day of Blacks and Whites' Carnival, celebrated until January 7. (southern Colombia) The first day of the Carnival of Riosucio, celebrated until January 8 every 2 years. (Riosucio) The ninth of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity) The second day of New Year (a holiday in Kazakhstan, North Macedonia, Mauritius, Montenegro, New Zealand, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine😞 New Year Holiday (Scotland), if it is a Sunday, the day moves to January 3 Kaapse Klopse (Cape Town, South Africa) Victory of Armed Forces Day (Cuba) Observances (click on the day or week for details) 55 mph Speed Limit Day Day after New Year's Day Happy Mew Year for Cats Day National Cream Puff Day National Erika Day Motivation and Inspiration Day National Personal Trainer Awareness Day National Pet Travel Safety Day National Thank God Its Monday Day Reconquest Day Swiss Cheese Day Tournament of Roses Parade World Introvert Day Weigh-In Day Tfue’s Birthday Will Kirby’s Birthday Taye Diggs’s Birthday London Charles’s Birthday Dax Shepard’s Birthday Colby Brock’s Birthday Bryson Tiller’s Birthday Fun Observances (3) Buffet Day Want to hit the buffet table one last time before you start your New Year’s resolution? Then Buffet Day on January 2 is the fun food holiday for you. How to Celebrate? Visit your favorite buffet restaurant for lunch or dinner and try every dish on the buffet table. Just make sure you have time to nap after your meal. Get together with friends to host a buffet lunch or dinner at home. Host a themed potluck buffet where everyone brings a dish or 2 that fits the theme. Here are some ideas: sandwich buffet, salad buffet or a bacon buffet - where all dishes have to have bacon in them. Did You Know… …that the idea of a buffet table originated from an alcoholic beverage serving system in Sweden? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Run It up the Flagpole and See If Anyone Salutes It Day January is the month of new beginnings, so it is only fitting that January 2 is Run It Up The Flagpole And See If Anyone Salutes It Day. The name of the holiday comes from the English language expression, run it up a flagpole and see if anyone salutes it, which means putting new ideas and ventures to test and to see if they gain acceptance and popularity, just like a flag would have respect by people saluting it. Advertising Term It is commonly used in advertising and is a popular phrase in the United States. The day encourages people to be creative and to implement their ideas. How to Celebrate? Have a great idea? Run it by your friends and family to hear what they think. Want a style makeover? This may be the day to do it - ask your closest friends what you think of your new style. Want to start a new business? Go out and do your market research today. Did You Know… …that the world’s highest free-standing flagpole is located in Dushanbe, Tajikistan? Standing at 541 feet (165 meters), the flagpole is known as the Dushanbe Flagpole. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Science Fiction Day Science fiction fans around the world celebrate January 2 as Science Fiction Day. It celebrates science fiction writer Isaac Asimov's official birthday. The day was widely celebrated for the first time in 2012 and is usually known as National Science Fiction Day in the United States. Set in the Future The holiday focuses on a genre of literature that explores the effect of imaginary change through technological innovations, scientific discoveries, natural events and disasters and evolution on people and their relationships. Usually, works of science fiction (sci-fi) are set in the near or distant future, and unlike fantasy, sci-fi tends to stay away from the supernatural and the magical. Part of Popular Culture Many scholars of the genre believe that the first piece of recorded fiction - the Epic of Gilgamesh - was also the first work of science fiction. Others believe that sci-fi became a legitimate genre of fiction during the late 16th and 17th century with the emergence of modern science. Today, science fiction is a well-read genre of literature and a huge part of popular culture also in movies and TV-series. Father of Modern-Day Science Fiction Isaac Asimov is considered to be one of the fathers of modern-day science fiction. A prolific writer, he is thought to have edited and written about 500 books and hundreds of short stories. Considered to be one of the most influential science fiction writers of all times, Asimov is credited with coining the word robotics and for introducing the Three Laws of Robotics. While he grew up in the United States, Asimov was born in Russia sometime between October and January 1920. He officially celebrated his birthday on January 2. How to Celebrate? Read your favorite science fiction authors, watch science fiction movies and hold science fiction themed parties. Attend a short story and book reading that bookstores and libraries hold to showcase the works of classic and new science fiction authors. Encourage young readers in your life to pick up a science fiction book or short story to read. Did You Know… …that Asimov had a fear of flying? According to some sources, he flew on an airplane only twice in his life. In addition to being aviophobic, he was a claustrophiliac - he loved to be in enclosed places. *** Six Dumb Questions Real Lawyers Asked In Court “How many times have you committed suicide?” “Were you alone or by yourself?” “Was it you or your brother who was killed?” “Without saying anything, tell the jury what you did next.” “Was that the same nose you broke as a child?” “Now, doctor, isn’t it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn’t know about it until the next morning?” *** If you’re interested in becoming a lawyer, you’ll need a degree. But as these court transcripts reveal, the question is, in what? Attorney: "How was your first marriage terminated?" Witness: "By death." Attorney: "And by whose death was it terminated?" Witness: "Guess." Attorney: "Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?" Witness: "All of them. The live ones put up too much of a fight." *** Justice isn't just blind—it's snickering at these real courtroom give-and-takes: Judge (to young witness): Do you know what would happen to you if you told a lie? Witness: Yes. I would go to hell. Judge: Is that all? Witness: Isn't that enough? Q: Isn't it a fact that you have been running around with another woman? A: Yes, it is, but you can't prove it! Q: Have you ever heard about taking the Fifth? A: A fifth of wine? Q: No, the Fifth Amendment. Q: What did your sister die of? A: You would have to ask her. I would be speculating if I told you. *** I was walking along a back road when two bunnies suddenly leapt into the air and landed one on top of the other. To my astonishment, I saw that one had pushed the other onto a stout groundhog. In disgust, he lifted his nose with a grunt and a distinct 
snarl, as if to say, “These rabbits nowadays! What do they teach their children?” After the startled and likely embarrassed bunnies scuttled away, the groundhog stayed in the same position for a few moments before waddling off, still in a huff. I’ll never forget that woodchuck’s shocked face! *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** (Updated) Queen Elizabeth II was related to Vlad the Impaler, making King Charles III the 'heir to Dracula's bloodline.' *** *** sandrewn