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March 6th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Chrodegang Colette Fridolin Kyneburga, Kyneswide and Tibba Marcian of Tortona William W. Mayo and Charles Frederick Menninger (Episcopal Church (USA)) Olegarius March 6 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) European Day of the Righteous, commemorates those who have stood up against crimes against humanity and totalitarianism with their own moral responsibility. (Europe) Foundation Day (Norfolk Island), the founding of Norfolk Island in 1788. Independence Day (Ghana), celebrates the independence of Ghana from the UK in 1957. Observances National Dentist’s Day National White Chocolate Cheesecake Day Hospitality Workers in HealthCare Day National Frozen Food Day Namesake Day National Dress Day National Oreo Cookie Day ~~~~~~ Sun Mar 6th, 2022 - Sat Mar 12th, 2022 No More Week Women in Construction Week Return Borrowed Books Week Read an E-Book Week National School Social Work Week Dental Assistant Recognition Week National Groundwater Awareness Week National Procrastination Week National Consumer Protection Week World Orphan Week National Professional Pet Sitters Week Fun Observances Dentist's Day Celebrate dentists all over the world and honor their role in keeping us healthy and smiling on March 6 or Dentist’s Day. Dentists tend to get a bad rap, but they are essential for keeping us and our communities healthy. Old Job Dentistry is one of the oldest medical specialization. Oral health has always been a source of trouble for people and a subject matter of great interest to physicians throughout human history. The first dentist in recorded history - Hesy Ra - is thought to have lived and practiced his dentistry in Egypt around 2600 BCE. Barbers as Dentists Before dentistry became an organized professional branch of medicine, barbers were part-time dentists, usually entrusted with the unsavory job of extracting teeth. Modern dentistry emerged during the late 17th century, though the lack of anesthesia and sophisticated equipment made going to the dentist a painful proposition. Today, dentists are an important part of any country's medical and health system. In addition to caring for people with tooth problems, dentists also perform surgeries to correct misaligned teeth and other problems affecting the jaw and the oral cavity. How to Celebrate? If you haven’t been to see your dentist in a while, use this day to make an appointment with them. Thank your dentist by sending them a thank you note or maybe some home baked goods – just make sure there isn’t too much sugar in them. Did You Know… …that the world's first dental school was opened by Dr. John M. Harris in Bainbridge, Ohio, on February 21, 1828? *** While I was serving as a juror, I chanced to share the elevator one morning with a visiting judge. He asked me where the jurors parked, and I informed him that we had our own lot several blocks away. Then it occurred to me that he might be having a problem finding a place for his car, so I continued, "but, Your Honor, they have a special place reserved for judges down below." "Yes," he said dryly, "I'm sure they do." *** Phil was driving down a country road late one night when he felt a big thud. He got out of the car and looked around, but the road was empty. Since there was nothing else to be done, Phil drove on home. In the morning the sheriff was standing at his doorstep. "You're under arrest for hitting a pig and leaving the scene," the lawman told him with a frown. "Please come with me." Phil couldn't believe his ears. "But how could you possibly know that's what happened?" he asked. "It wasn't hard," the sheriff replied. "The pig squealed." *** One afternoon I was walking on a trail with my newborn daughter, chatting to her about the scenery. When a man and his dog approached, I leaned into the baby carriage and said, "See the doggy?" Suddenly I felt a little silly talking to my baby as if she understood me. But just as the man passed, I noticed he reached down, patted his dog and said, "See the baby?" *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Meanwhile...in Japan sandrewn

March 5th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Ciarán of Saigir John Joseph of the Cross Piran Theophilus, bishop of Caesarea Thietmar of Minden March 5 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of Physical Culture and Sport (Azerbaijan) Learn from Lei Feng Day (China) St Piran's Day (Cornwall) Observances National Cheese Doodle Day Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day National Absinthe Day Open Data Day Multiple Personality Day Reel Film Day Fun Observances ( 2 ) Learn What Your Name Means Day On March 5, or Learn What Your Name Means Day, do some research to find out the out the origin and history of your name - first and last. Maybe you'll find a great tale behind your name! The holiday is part of Celebrate Your Name Week created by American Jerry Hill in 1997. The purpose of the week is to encourage people to celebrate and appreciate their unique names. Types of Names A name is a word used to identify people, places, and things. A person is identified by their name or full name, and this usually consists of at least two words - the given name, which is also known as the first name, and the surname, which is also known as the family name or last name. The purpose of the surname or family name is to indicate that the person belongs to a specific family or clan. In many cultures, people are identified by a single name. Tracing History Because of different naming conventions around the world, a person's name, while not unique, can tell a lot of the person's heritage and family history. For example, many societies in the world use patronymic names - at least one part of a person's name comes from the father's family. By following the chain of shared names back, one can find, if records exist, a lot about one's ancestors. Similarly, some cultures follow a matronymic tradition where part of a person's name comes from the mother's side of the family. How to Celebrate? Talk to your parents or family members about your name. Ask them why they gave you your name and what it means. With a little bit of research you may be able to find out about the lives of your ancestors. How about learning your name in Morse code? Did You Know… …that the study of the history, origin, and meaning of proper names is called onomatology? ~~~~~~~ Cinco de Marcho Day A play on Cinco de Mayo, Cinco de Marcho is an unofficial holiday celebrated annually on March 5. The made-up holiday encourages people to get ready for St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. According to the official Cinco de Marcho website, the day was created in 2007 in the United States. It marks the beginning of a 12-day period when "people train their livers for drinking huge amounts of alcohol on St. Patrick’s Day." A Celebration of Irish Culture Also colloquially known as St. Paddy's Day, St. Patrick’s Day is an annual celebration of Irish culture. It commemorates St. Patrick, one of Ireland’s patron saints, who was responsible for spreading Christianity in Ireland during the 5th century. Associated with Irish Beer In recent years, with the spread of Irish immigrants around the world, St. Patrick's Day has become a holiday celebrated worldwide. In many parts of the world, people celebrate the day by drinking lots of Irish beer and participating in St. Patrick Day parades. Cinco de Marcho is a way to extend these celebrations to the previous weeks and encourage people to start consuming Irish beers days before the actual event. How to Celebrate? Host a party for your friends and organize drinking games. Visit your favorite bars with your friends and spend the evening drinking your favorite adult beverages. Do not drink? What about just getting together with friends and having a good time? Someone wise once did say that you don’t need alcohol to have fun. Did You Know... ...that Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday celebrated every year on May 5? The holiday celebrates the anniversary of the defeat of the French army during the Battle of Puebla in Mexico on May 5, 1862. *** My mother, a meticulous housekeeper, often lectured my father about tracking dirt into the house. One day he came in to find her furiously scrubbing away at a spot on the floor and launching into a lecture. "I don't know what you've brought in," she said, "but I can't seem to get this out." He studied the situation for a moment and, without a word, moved a figurine on the window-sill where the sun was streaming in. The spot immediately disappeared. *** Over the years, my husband and I have usually managed to decode the cute but confusing gender signs they sometimes put on restroom doors in restaurants (Buoys & Gulls, Laddies & Lassies, etc.), but every so often we get stumped. Recently my husband, Dave, wandered off in search of the men’s room and found himself confronted by two marked doors. One was labeled 'Bronco' and the other was designated 'Cactus.' Completely baffled, he stopped a restaurant employee passing by. "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom," Dave said. Gesturing toward the doors, he asked, "Which one should I use?" "Actually, we would prefer you to go there," the employee said, pointing to a door down the hall marked 'Men.' "Bronco and Cactus are private dining rooms." *** For years I had been telling my friend Pete that he ate too much fast food, but he always denied it. One day he admitted I was right. "What changed your mind?" "My grandson. When my daughter told him I was coming to visit, he asked, 'Grandpa from Florida, or Grandpa from Pizza Hut?' " *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

March 4th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Adrian of Nicomedia Casimir Felix of Rhuys Giovanni Antonio Farina (Catholic Church) Blessed Humbert III, Count of Savoy (Roman Catholic Church) Paul Cuffee (Episcopal Church) Peter of Pappacarbone Blessed Zoltán Meszlényi March 4 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) St Casimir's Day (Poland and Lithuania) World Obesity Day[36] Observances National Day of Unplugging National Grammar Day National Employee Appreciation Day Overseas NHS Workers Day Marching Band Day Toy Soldier Day National Dress in Blue Day National Pound Cake Day International Scrapbooking Industry Day National Salesperson Day National Hug a G.I. Day National Sons Day Benjamin Harrison Day Holy Experiment Day National Safety Day National Tartar Sauce Day Old Inauguration Day World Day of Prayer Fun Observances March Forth and Do Something Day March Forth and Do Something Day is a made-up holiday celebrated each year on March 4. The holiday encourages people to do something new that enriches their own lives or the lives of people in their community. March Fourth The name of this unofficial holiday plays on the words, march fourth, which when spoken out loud sounds like march forth - an expression used to convey action and moving forward. Homonyms March fourth and march forth are homophones - words or expressions that are pronounced alike, but have different meanings. Homographs, on the other hand, are words or expressions that are spelled the same way but have different meanings. Examples of such words include bass (a deep sound and a type of fish) and bow (to bend, the front of a ship and a type of knot). Homophones and homographs are both types of homonyms. How to Celebrate? March forth and do something. Volunteer in your community. Start something that you have always wanted to do, but have never had the chance to. Did You Know… …that the word March is a capitonym? Capitonyms are words or expressions whose meaning changes depending on where it's capitalized or not. March refers to the month, while march refers to a walking in a measured way. *** The family was viewing old slides and one flashed on the screen that caught everyone's attention. My father, wearing his favorite golf shirt, was holding me at the tender age of three weeks. The look on his face told all. "There's my prize possession," my father said. Touched, I smiled at him as he continued, "I wonder whatever happened to that golf shirt?" *** Traditional Chinese drugstores are always filled with bizarre remedies for everyday ailments. So while traveling in the Far East, I couldn't resist going into a drugstore to look around. There were rows and rows of jars filled with dried herbs, powders, and exotic oils. But one jar really caught my attention. The label said it was a guaranteed cure for stomachache. The jar was filled with chocolate chip cookies. *** To mail a big package of cookies to my two Air Force sons, both of whom were serving in Saudi Arabia, I was required to attach a label describing the contents. I carefully marked the box "Cookies" and sent it off, but after a month my sons said they had yet to receive my package. Suspicious, I baked another batch, only this time I labeled the contents "Health Food." Within a week my sons reported they had received the goodies. *** Spotted on T-shirts for sale in the Ponce de Leon Coast Guard Exchange: "Support Your Local Coast Guard…Get Lost." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

March 3rd 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Anselm, Duke of Friuli Arthelais Cunigunde of Luxembourg Katharine Drexel John and Charles Wesley (Episcopal Church (USA)) Marinus and Asterius of Caesarea[40] Winwaloe March 3 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Hinamatsuri or "Girl's Day" (Japan) Liberation and Freedom Day (Charlottesville, Virginia, USA) Liberation Day (Bulgaria)[41] Martyrs' Day (Malawi) Mother's Day (Georgia) Sportsmen's Day (Egypt) Teacher's Day (Lebanon) World Hearing Day World Wildlife Day[42] Observances (click on the day or week for details) World Book Day What If Cats and Dogs Had Opposable Thumbs Day National Anthem Day National Canadian Bacon Day International Irish Whiskey Day National Cold Cuts Day National Mulled Wine Day 33 Flavors Day Missouri Compromise Day National Anthem Day National Cold Cuts Day National Hospitalist Day National Soup it Forward Day Peach Blossom Day ~~~~~~ Thu Mar 3rd, 2022 - Wed Mar 9th, 2022 Endometriosis Awareness Week Fun Observances I Want You to be Happy Day March 3 is I Want You to be Happy Day, a day to set aside selfish thoughts and to make someone feel special and happy. The anonymous creators of the unofficial holiday wanted to encourage people to do things that cheer up people around them. A Universal Emotion Even though happiness is a universal emotion, it can mean different things to different people. In today's busy world, it is easy to forget this and take on a more self-centric view of happiness. I Want You to be Happy Day inspires people set aside their definition of happiness and to find out what makes their loved ones happy and do those things for them. Happy Days The day is also known as National I Want You to be Happy Day in the United States. Other happy holidays are Let's Laugh Day, Random Act of Kindness Day, International Moment of Laughter Day, and Laugh and Get Rich Day. How to Celebrate? Make someone’s day special. Compliment them or just do something special to make them happy. Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you and that you will do everything to ensure that they are happy. Having troubles with a friend or a family member? Sit down with them and clear things up and tell them that you want them to be happy. Did You Know… …that many believe that the phrase "happy as a clam" originates from the fact that open clams give an impression of a smiling clam? Other sources, however, suggest that the fuller version of the phrase - happy as a clam at high water - explains why a clam may be happy. At high water, clams tend to have no predators including humans. *** Pointing to a pan of chicken wings and legs disguised in the classic mess-hall manner, a young airman asked the mess sergeant, "What's for chow?" "Air Force chicken," replied the sergeant. "You want wings or landing gear?" *** A couple we know were in Lamaze class, where they had an activity requiring the husband to wear a bag of sand—to give him an idea of what it feels like to be pregnant. The husband stood up and shrugged, saying, "This doesn't feel so bad." The teacher then dropped a pen and asked him to pick it up. "You want me to pick up the pen as if I were pregnant?" he asked. "Exactly," replied the instructor. To the delight of the other husbands, he turned to his wife and said, "Honey, pick up that pen for me." *** After being at sea in the Persian Gulf for 90 straight days, I went to the squadron command master chief to complain. "Chief, I joined the Navy to see the world," I said, "but for the past three months all I've seen is water." "Lieutenant," he replied, "three-quarters of the earth is covered with water, and the Navy has been showing you that. If you wanted to see the other quarter, you should have joined the Army." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

March 2nd 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Air Force Day (Sri Lanka) Baloch Culture Day (Balochistan) Christian feast day: Agnes of Bohemia Angela of the Cross Blessed Charles the Good, Count of Flanders Chad of Mercia (Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Eastern Orthodox Church) John Maron March 2 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Feast of 'Alá (Loftiness), First day of the 19th month of the Baháʼí calendar (Baháʼí Faith) and first day of the Baháʼí Nineteen Day Fast Jamahiriya Day (Libya) National Read Across America Day (United States)[29][30] Peasants' Day (Myanmar) Texas Independence Day Victory at Adwa Day (Ethiopia) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Old Stuff Day National Banana Cream Pie Day Dr. Seuss Day Ash Wednesday American Citizenship Day International Rescue Cat Day National Egg McMuffin Day Stop Bad Service Day World Teen Mental Wellness Day Fun Observances Old Stuff Day March 2 is Old Stuff Day. Take some time on this made-up holiday to appreciate the beauty of all things old and vintage. Or you can reflect on the same old, and sometimes boring, things that you do every day and take the opportunity to change things up. The holiday is also sometimes called National Old Stuff Day in the United States. Increased Value While people often see old things as something to be replaced by newer, shinier things, not all of them are useless. Wines, for example, are more valuable and tastier as they grow older. Many old items like maps, books, jewelry, furniture, clothes, and artifacts also gain value as they age. This is because they represent workmanship and aesthetics of a previous historical era, as well as technology that may not exist in present times. Much more valuable than old inanimate items is the wisdom and knowledge we can get from old people. From old family members, one can learn their family history, their genealogy, and their origins. Old people can provide us a richer and more colorful account of the past than any history book can. Antique Versus Vintage Not all old things are created equal. Those who study history divide historical items into two groups based on their age. Antiques are items that are at least 100 years old, while vintage items usually have to be at least 30 years or more old. How to Celebrate? Sort out that crammed attic or basement, and throw away any old things you have no use for anymore. Or, start a vintage collection. Visit thrift stores and flea markets - who knows what treasures you may come across? Get together with your grandparents or someone older than you and ask them to tell you stories about their childhood and youth. Learn about what was going on in the world when they were growing up. Take a bit of time today to contemplate your life and to add a few new activities or hobbies to spice up your routine. Continuing on the theme of old things, perhaps you could pick up collecting old rocks? Did You Know… …that earliest known pieces of jewelry made by humans are thought to be about 100,000 years old? Found in a cave in Israel, the pieces were made from mollusk shells. *** I called a video shop to order the war movie Battle of the Bulge. "Hold on," said the clerk. "I'll check our aerobics tapes." *** I was hospitalized with an awful sinus infection that caused the entire left side of my face to swell. On the third day, the nurse led me to believe that I was finally recovering when she announced excitedly, "Look, your wrinkles are coming back!" *** My wife received a credit-card application in the mail that she had not requested. She didn't want it, but I did. So I crossed off my wife's name on the form, entered my own and returned the application. I soon got a phone call from a woman saying my application had been rejected. I asked her why, and she told me the card could only be issued to the person originally solicited by the offer. However, she invited me to reapply, which I did during the same telephone call. A few days later I got another call to tell me my second application had been rejected. Why? The woman told me their files showed that I had previously applied for a card and had been denied. *** At his 103rd birthday party, my grandfather was asked if he thought that he'd be around for his 104th. "I certainly do," he replied. "Statistics show that very few people die between the ages of 103 and 104." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

March 1st 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Beer Day, marked the end of beer prohibition in 1989 (Iceland) Christian feast day: Agnes Tsao Kou Ying (one of the Martyr Saints of China) Albin David Eudokia of Heliopolis Pope Felix III[53] Leoluca Luperculus Monan Rudesind Suitbert March 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Commemoration of Mustafa Barzani's Death (Iraqi Kurdistan) Disability Day of Mourning[60] Earliest day on which Laetare Sunday can fall, while April 4 is the latest; celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent. (Western Christianity), and its related observances: Carnaval de la Laetare (Stavelot) Mothering Sunday (United Kingdom) Heroes' Day (Paraguay) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina from Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1992. National "Cursed Soldiers" Remembrance Day (Poland) Remembrance Day (Marshall Islands) Saint David's Day or Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant (Wales and Welsh communities) Samiljeol (South Korea) Southeastern Europe celebration of the beginning of spring: Baba Marta Day (Bulgaria) Mărțișor (Romania and Moldova) The final day (fourth or fifth) of Ayyám-i-Há (Baháʼí Faith) World Civil Defence Day Yap Day (Yap State) Zero Discrimination Day[61] Self-injury Awareness Day (international) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Barista Day National Pig Day National Wedding Planning Day Refired, Not Retired Day Plan A Solo Vacation Day World Compliment Day National Fruit Compote Day National Horse Protection Day Pancake Day National Peanut Butter Lover's Day Baby Sleep Day Fat Tuesday Independence Movement Day Isra and Mi'raj Maha Shivaratri Mardi Gras National Black Women in Jazz and the Arts Day National Dadgum That's Good Day National Sportsmanship Day Paczki Day Share a Smile Day World Compliment Day World Music Therapy Day Justin Bieber's Birthday ~~~~~~ Tue Mar 1st, 2022 - Mon Mar 7th, 2022 Will Eisner Week Universal Human Beings Week Observances (click on the month for details) Endometriosis Awareness Month National Social Work Month National Small Press Month Rising Star Month National Hemophilia Awareness Month National Kidney Month National Peanut Month Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month National Nutrition Month National Women’s History Month National Craft Month International Ideas Month National Credit Education Month National Caffeine Awareness Month National Cheerleading Safety Month National Umbrella Month National Music in Our Schools Month Fun Observances ( 2 ) World Compliment Day March 1 is celebrated as World Compliment Day, a day that aims to address the “basic human need for recognition and appreciation.” Started in the Netherlands by Hans Poortvliet in 2001, the day is now celebrated in many European countries including Norway and Belgium. Spread Joy and Positivity According to the official website of the unofficial holiday, Poortvliet created the day as a way to spread happiness and increase productivity. The website encourages people to use words instead of gifts as a way to praise and appreciate people. The idea is to create the “most positive day in the world.” How to Celebrate? Pay compliments to everyone you meet. Appreciate family, coworkers, and friends for their hard work and for being there in your life. Did You Know... ...there is a similar holiday, Compliment Day that is annually celebrated on January 24? ~~~~~~~ Plan a Solo Vacation Day Need a vacation and don’t have a traveling companion? Then March 1 or Plan a Solo Vacation Day is the unofficial holiday for you. On this day treat yourself to that vacation you have always wanted, without having to wait for someone to join you on your adventures. Advantages Planning a solo vacation can be intimidating and overwhelming. But traveling alone can have many advantages. Informal studies have shown that those who travel by themselves tend to be more spontaneous and adventurous. Facing unknown situations in new and strange places can help people overcome their fears and anxieties. Friendlier Those who travel solo are forced to interact with locals and fellow travelers, instead of just hanging out with a small group of people. This translates into social benefits in real life - solo travelers can easily mold themselves to fit into any social group and situation. Do Whatever You Want Finally, taking a solo vacation means you can be your own master. You don't have to stick to a plan or follow someone else's lead - you can go wherever you want, whenever you want, and do whatever you want to do. No more boring museums or spending countless hours shopping. How to Celebrate? Go on, plan your dream holiday all for yourself! You don’t need a traveling partner to have fun! Don't want to travel? What about a solo staycation? Stay at home, explore your city, catch up on your reading, meet with friends and enjoy your time off from work. Did You Know… …that the earliest guidebooks were called periplus? They were Roman and Greek documents that listed ports and landmarks that ships could encounter on their voyages. *** I had just had my 50th birthday and found the decade marker traumatic. When I went to get my driver's license renewed, a matter-of-fact woman typed out the information, tested my vision, snapped the camera and handed me a laminated card with my picture on it. "You mean I have to look at this for the next four years?" I jokingly said to her. "Don't worry about it," she replied. "In four years it'll look good to you." *** I am a first-grade teacher and a new empty nester. One night I was trying out an art project: making a person with simple materials. I took a coat hanger, attached a paper-plate face, put a shirt on the hanger and stuffed it. Then I sat it on the couch to see how it looked. Later that evening my son walked in the door, home for a surprise visit. Taking one look at my coat-hanger friend sitting on the couch, he said, "Mom, it's not that bad, is it?" *** At 82 years old, my husband applied for his first passport. He was told he would need a birth certificate, but his birth had never been officially registered. When he explained his dilemma to the passport agent, the response was less than helpful. "In lieu of a birth certificate," the agent said, "you can bring a notarized affidavit from the doctor who delivered you." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 28th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day:International Sword Swallowers Day February 28 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Kalevala Day, also known as the Finnish Culture Day (Finland)[15 Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Tooth Fairy Day National Floral Design Day National Chocolate Souffle Day Rare Disease Day Global Scouse Day International Sword Swallowers Day Linus Pauling Day Peace Memorial Day (228 Memorial Day) ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mon Feb 28th, 2022 - Fri Mar 4th, 2022 National Invasive Species Awareness Week Mon Feb 28th, 2022 - Sun Mar 6th, 2022 Telecommuter Appreciation Week Fun Observances Public Sleeping Day Catch a few winks or take a long nap in public to celebrate Public Sleeping Day on February 28. Definitely one of the more quirky made-up holidays we have seen, Public Sleeping Day or National Public Sleeping Day as it is also known, encourages people to commune with nature by sleeping outdoors in public. Cold in the North Cold temperatures in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere may make observing this holiday a foolhardy venture so make sure you have a sleeping bag. And if you are looking for a restful adventure, this may be the perfect holiday for you to participate in. How to Celebrate? Get your favorite pillow and blanket and find a safe and clean place in public to take a nap. Make sure you layer up if it is still winter in your part of the world. You don't even need to find a special place to take a nap. If you have long commute why not take that time to catch a few winks? Get together with friends and organize a large pajama party at a park. Have everyone bring their sleeping bags, set up an outdoor movie screen, have a picnic and then take a nap. Did You Know… …that humans are the only mammals that can willingly delay sleep? *** In good weather, my friend Mark always let his yellow-naped Amazon parrot, Nicky, sit on the balcony of his tenth-floor apartment. One morning, Nicky flew away, much to Mark’s dismay. He searched and called for the bird, with no luck. The next day when Mark returned from work, the phone rang. “Is this Mark?” The caller asked. “You’re going to think this is crazy, but there’s a bird outside on my balcony saying, ‘Hello, this is Mark.’ Then it recites this phone number and says, ‘I can’t come to the phone right now, but if you will leave a message at the tone, I will call you back.’” Nicky’s cage had been kept in the same room as Mark’s answering machine. *** We brought our newborn son, Adam, to the pediatrician for his first checkup. As he finished, the doctor told us, "You have a cute baby." Smiling, I said, "I bet you say that to all new parents." "No," he replied, "just to those whose babies really are good-looking." "So what do you say to the others?" I asked. "He looks just like you." *** Neighbors of ours had a terrible disagreement over a patio they wanted for their backyard. The wife had rather grand ideas, while the husband wanted costs kept to a minimum. The wife won out, and the construction bill climbed higher and higher. I dropped by one day, when the patio was near completion, and was surprised to find the husband smiling from ear to ear as the workmen smoothed over the surface. I remarked how nice it was to see a grin replace the frown he had been wearing lately. “You see where they’re smoothing that cement?” he replied. “I just threw my wife’s credit cards in there.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 27th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows George Herbert (Anglicanism) Honorina Leander February 27 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) The second day of Ayyám-i-Há (Baháʼí Faith) (Note: this observance is only on this date in the Gregorian calendar if Baháʼí Naw-Rúz takes place on March 21, which it does not in all years) Doctors' Day (Vietnam) Independence Day (Dominican Republic), celebrates the first independence of Dominican Republic from Haiti in 1844. Majuba Day (some Afrikaners in South Africa) Marathi Language Day (Maharashtra, India) World NGO Day Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Pokemon Day National Kahlua Day National Strawberry Day National Protein day Anosmia Awareness Day ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sun Feb 27th, 2022 - Sat Mar 5th, 2022 Cornish Pasty Week Peace Corps Week Fun Observances ( 2 ) International Polar Bear Day International Polar Bear Day on February 27 is an unofficial holiday created by Polar Bear International (PBI). It raises awareness of the impact of global warming on Polar Bears. Polar Bear International is a group run by conservationists, scientists, and volunteers working to educate the public about the effects of climate change on the Arctic region. More specifically, they focus on how global warming is slowly destroying the habitat of polar bears and adversely affecting their population. Reduced Food Source Despite being the largest carnivores on land, polar bears largely rely on seals for food. Shorter ice seasons and melting sea ice mean seals, who rely on ice to raise their young, are becoming scarcer. This is leaving polar bears without a ready source of food. Lack of food is also forcing polar bears to venture into areas populated by humans, making them vulnerable to attacks from residents and hunters. Vulnerable to Diseases Rising temperatures, loss of weight, and lack of nutrition due to lack of food has also meant that polar bears are now becoming vulnerable to previously unknown diseases. Scientists believe all of these factors have caused a severe decline in polar bear populations, and if the trend continues global warming could potentially lead to the extinction of the species. Effects of Human Activity Human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, is considered by scientists as the primary cause of global warming. The goal of International Polar Bear Day is to bring light to this fact, and to encourage people around the world to help find solutions to the problem of climate change. How to Observe? Fixing global warming might seem like a daunting task for an individual, but it doesn't have to be. Use this day to find ways to reduce your carbon footprint and help raise awareness about the importance of polar bears in our ecology, and the effects of global warming on their survival. To reduce your carbon footprint, consider taking the following steps: Walk, bike, take public transport, or carpool to work. Avoid using a vehicle that runs on fossil fuel as much as you can. Reduce plastic usage and waste by carrying your reusable shopping bags to the stores. Plant trees in your backyard if you have space or join a local tree planting drive. Learn more about polar bears, their habitat, habits, and life cycle. Raise funds or volunteer your time for an organization that works to reduce global warming. Did You Know… … that polar bears are black and not white? Their fur is transparent while their skin is black. The transparent fur reflects sunlight such that it looks white to human eyes. ~~~~~~~ No Brainer Day February 27 is No Brainer Day. It is believed that the holiday was created by Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith in the United States as a way to remind people that most things are simple and that many problems we encounter daily have obvious and easy solutions. The made-up holiday, which is also sometimes known as International No Brainer Day, also allows people to stop over analyzing things, second-guessing themselves, and to relax and take it easy. Very Little Thought The holiday gets its name from the English language phrase no brainer, which refers to decisions or choices that require very little effort and thought. How to Celebrate? That’s a no brainer of course! Take this day to relax your brain and stop yourself from over analyzing problems. Leave that for another day. Did You Know… …that in a study conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, neuroscientists found that the human brain could process images that had been flashed before the person for as little as 13 milliseconds? *** I was working as a short-order cook at two restaurants in the same neighborhood. On a Saturday night, I was finishing up the dinner shift at one restaurant and hurrying to report to work at the second place. But I was delayed because one table kept sending back an order of hash browns, insisting they were too cold. I replaced them several times, but still the customers were dissatisfied. When I was able to leave, I raced out the door and arrived at my second job. A server immediately handed me my first order. "Make sure these hash browns are hot," she said, "because these people just left a restaurant down the street that kept serving them cold ones." *** The generation gap proved glaringly obvious at the mail-order music company where my wife works as a customer service representative. Some college students, who were working part-time inputting customer information, wrote the following notes regarding some golden oldies: "Customer is looking for two song titles: 'Shovel Off Two Buffaloes' and 'Honey, Suck a Rose.' " *** While I was dining out with my children, a man came over to our table and we started talking. He asked where my kids go to school. I told him we home-school them. With a raised eyebrow he asked if my husband is the sole breadwinner for our family. I said no, I also work—out of our home. Then, noticing our two-month-old son, he mentioned that his daughter had just had a baby, and he wondered what hospital our son was born in. "He was born at home," I answered. The man looked at me, then said, "Wow, you don't get out much, do you?" *** *** *** *** Pre - Covid *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 26th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Alexander of Alexandria Emily Malbone Morgan (Episcopal Church (USA)) Isabelle of France Li Tim-Oi (Anglican Church of Canada) Porphyry of Gaza February 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of Remembrance for Victims of Khojaly Massacre (Azerbaijan) Liberation Day (Kuwait) Saviours' Day (Nation of Islam) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Levi Strauss Day National Personal Chef Day National Carpe Diem Day Open That Bottle Night For Pete’s Sake Day Letter to an Elder Day ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sat Feb 26th, 2022 - Sun Mar 6th, 2022 Jewish Book Week Fun Observances ( 3 ) Pistachio Day Archeologists believe that pistachios were used as food as early as 6000 BCE. Celebrate this ancient and healthy nut on February 26, Pistachio Day. Also known as National Pistachio Day or World Pistachio Day, this unofficial holiday encourages people to add pistachios to their daily diets and take advantage of their health benefits. Happy Nut Called the happy nut in China and the smiling nut in Iran, pistachios are native to the Middle East and Central Asia. Food historians believe that the pistachio tree reached Greece along with Alexander the Great's army. Traders introduced the nut to the rest of the European continent, where it was initially used as an expensive addition to food and baked goods. Dyed Red to Hide Flaws In the United States, the nut was introduced by Middle Eastern immigrants during the late 19th century. Even though, the country now produces most of the world's pistachio crops, along with Iran, Turkey and Syria, the nut wasn't grown commercially there until the mid 20th century. In the initial days of their commercial productions, pistachio shells were dyed red or green by the growers. This was to hide the marks and dents made on the shell during harvesting. Today, with mechanical harvesting procedures, there is no reason to dye the shells anymore. Full of Nutrients Pistachios are a rich source of proteins, fiber, and vitamin B. Research indicates that adding the nut to one's daily diet may reduce the risk of heart disease. The nut is used in many cuisines around the world. In the Middle East, it is one of the main ingredients in many types of sweets including baklava and halva. In Italy, it is used to make spumoni and pistachio gelato – the Italian versions of ice cream. How to Celebrate? Add pistachios to every meal of the day. Start with adding it to your breakfast cereal, substitute peanut butter with pistachio butter for your lunch sandwich, have a pistachio crusted pork chop for dinner and finish the day off with a scoop or two of pistachio ice cream or pistachio cake. Did You Know… …that the Jylgyndy Forest Reserve in Kyrgyzstan was created to conserve the pistachio plant? ~~~~~~~ Tell a Fairy Tale Day Tell a Fairy Tale Day is on February 26. The unofficial holiday encourages celebrators to read, tell, and listen to fairy tales from around the world. Fairy tales are a genre of literature that features fantastical and magical characters. Usually in the form of short stories with fairies, elves, trolls, and witches as central characters, fairy tales are set in a magical world with events that take place "once upon a time." Oral Tradition A form of folk tales, fairy tales have a strong oral and written tradition all around the world - with cultures adopting whole or parts of tales from other cultures. Before the 17th century, fairy tales often had themes unsuitable for children and were written mostly for adults. Children's Genre Today, fairy tales are considered to be a genre of children's literature and the term fairy tale is used to refer to happy events and happenings, such as a fairy tale romance or a fairy tale ending. The holiday is also known as National Tell a Fairy Tale Day in the United States. How to Celebrate? Set your imagination free on this very fantastical holiday and re-read all your favorite fairy tales. If you have children in your lives, why not introduce them to some of the world's most famous fairy tales? Bring out your inner writer and pen down a fairy tale. Who knows, you could be the next Hans Christian Andersen! Watch movies based on fairy tales. Host a fairy tale party. Instruct your guests to come as their favorite fairy tale character, decorate the venue as if you were in an enchanted land of fairy tales and serve foods from all your favorite fairy tale stories. Some ideas include caramel apples (Snow White), pea salad (The Princess and the Pea), pumpkin soup (Cinderella) and porridge or rice pudding (Goldilocks and the Three Bears). Did You Know… … that at least 500 versions of Cinderella have been found around the world? ~~~~~~~ World Sword Swallowers Day If you enjoy seeing people do dangerous things, you will enjoy celebrating World Sword Swallowers Day on the last Saturday of February. This unofficial holiday was created by the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) in 2008. It celebrates the ancient art of sword swallowing and honors those who practice it. 16 Inches Long The day also attempts to dispel myths about sword swallowing and to bring international attention to the medical and scientific contribution of sword swallowers. According to SSAI, sword swallowing is the act of passing a sword or solid blade at least 16 inches long through the mouth into the stomach. Contrary to popular belief, sword swallowing is not a magic trick or an illusion, but a real skill that requires a lot of hard work and practice. How to Celebrate? Find a sword swallowing event nearby and go watch them. Learn about the art and science behind sword swallowing. Did You Know… …that the art of sword swallowing is an ancient art that is thought to have originated in the southern part of India? *** One morning a customer entered my flower shop and ordered a bouquet for his wife. "No card is necessary," he instructed us. "She'll know who sent them." The delivery truck hadn't even returned to the store when the phone rang. It was the customer's wife. "Who sent the flowers?" she asked. After explaining that the customer had requested that no card be included, I considered the matter closed—but not so. A bit later, she came rushing in the front door. "You've got to tell me who sent the flowers," she demanded, "before my husband gets home." *** Another man and I share a locker at work. Noticing that it needed a new combination lock, my partner said he would pick one up on his way to work the next day. It occurred to me later that I might not see him in the morning. How would I find out the combination? I needn't have worried. When I arrived at work I found that he had used the locker before me and had left a note reading: "To find the first number subtract 142 from your high score the last time we went bowling. The second number is 16 less than that. To find the third number subtract 1.87 from the amount you owe me." *** Faculty members at Texas Christian university were urged to become familiar with the timesaving machines of the new computer center. Basic courses in their use were given, and research projects were accelerated. The faculty was enthusiastic—except for one veteran professor. Not only did he flunk the primer course, but on his first project, when he asked the machine simply to separate the names of students by sex, the cards came out in three stacks. *** Grammatical Pedantry Syndrome: Signs That You're Suffering From GPS *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 25th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast days: Æthelberht of Kent[196][197] Blessed Ciriaco María Sancha y Hervás[198] Gerland of Agrigento[199] John Roberts, writer and missionary[200] (Anglican Communion) Blessed Maria Adeodata Pisani[201] Saint Walpurga (she was canonised on 1 May c. 870 and Walpurgis Night is celebrated 30 April)[202] February 25 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Kitano Baika-sai or "Plum Blossom Festival" (Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan)[203] Memorial Day for the Victims of the Communist Dictatorships (Hungary)[204] National Day (Kuwait)[205] People Power Day (Philippines)[206] Revolution Day in Suriname[207] Soviet Occupation Day (Georgia)[208] Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Chocolate Covered Nut Day Carnival of Brazil National New England Clam Chowder Day National Skip the Straw Day Pistol Patent Day Yukon Heritage Day *** Checking out of the grocery store, I noticed the bag boy eyeing my two adopted children. They often draw scrutiny, since my son's a blond Russian, while my daughter has shiny black Haitian skin. The boy continued staring as he carried our groceries to the car. Finally he asked, "Those your kids?" "They sure are," I said with pride. "They adopted?" "Yes," I replied. "I thought so," he concluded. "I figured you're too old to have kids that small." *** The board of education in a nearby town sold off a building that had been a one-room schoolhouse. The buyer converted it to a tavern. One day an elderly man was walking by the place with his grandson and pointed to the building. "That's where I went to school when I was your age." "Really," said the boy. "Who was your bartender back then?" *** It was the first day of basketball practice at Wingate high school in Brooklyn, N.Y. Coach Jack Kaminer handed a ball to each player. "Fellas," he said, "I want you to practice shooting from the spots you might expect to be in during the game." The No. 12 sub immediately sat down on the bench and began arcing the ball toward the basket. *** New to the United States, I was eager to meet people. So one day I struck up a conversation with the only other woman in the gym. Pointing to two men playing racquetball in a nearby court, I said to her, "There’s my husband." Then I added, "The thin one—not the fat one." After a slightly uncomfortable silence she replied, "And that’s my husband—the fat one." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 24th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Blessed Ascensión Nicol y Goñi Lindel Tsen and Paul Sasaki (Anglican Church of Canada) Modest (bishop of Trier) Sergius of Cappadocia February 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Dragobete (Romania) Engineer's Day (Iran) Flag Day in Mexico Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Estonia from the Russian Empire in 1918; the Soviet period is considered to have been an illegal annexation. National Artist Day (Thailand) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Toast Day International I Hate Coriander Day Fat Thursday World Bartender Day Fun Observances Tortilla Chip Day Honor the tortilla chip – the carrier of delicious dips – on February 24, Tortilla Chip Day. Tortilla chips were first popularized as a way to reuse misshapen tortillas by Rebecca Webb Carranza whose family owned the Los Angeles-based El Zarape Tortilla Factory in the 1940s. Served With Dip Today tortilla chips accompanied by some form of a dip is now a staple party dish. Usually made of fried yellow corn tortillas, tortilla chips can be served with dips like salsa, guacamole, or spicy guacamole. It can be incorporated in a more elaborate dish with cheese and sour cream such as nachos. How to Celebrate? Have tortilla chips for all your meals today - have tortilla chip cereal for breakfast, crush them into your salad at lunch, and have nachos for dinner. Try making your own tortilla chips at home. Did You Know… …that tortilla chips and salsa are the state snack of Texas? *** The plane was only half-full. When an attractive young woman asked if the seat next to mine was free, my male ego soared. Soon we were chatting pleasantly, and she told me it was her first flight. "Mom said to sit next to someone I thought I could trust," she confessed nervously, "and you look just like my dad." *** While on the freeway in Los Angeles, I was behind a pack of cars. The last driver was on the phone and drifting all over the road. This did not escape the attention of a California Highway Patrol officer, who snuck up behind her and said over his loudspeaker, "If you can't stay in your lane while on the phone, pull over until the call is completed." Immediately eight cars pulled over. *** My husband and I, married 13 years, were dressing for a party. I'd spent all day getting a haircut and permanent, then as we were leaving, we met in the hall and he said nothing. I complained that he had not even noticed my hair. "You used to pay attention to every little thing, and now you don't notice anything! You take me for granted!" My husband stood there rubbing his face as he let me rant and rave. Then it hit me: He'd shaved off his six-month-old beard. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 23rd 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Polycarp of Smyrna Serenus the Gardener February 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) The Emperor's Birthday, birthday of Naruhito, the current Emperor of Japan (Japan) Mashramani-Republic Day (Guyana) National Day (Brunei)[42] Red Army Day or Day of Soviet Army and Navy in the former Soviet Union, also held in various former Soviet republics: Defender of the Fatherland Day (Russia) Defender of the Fatherland and Armed Forces day (Belarus) Armed Forces Day (Tajikistan) (Tajikistan) Observances (click on the day or week for details) Curling Is Cool Day National Play Tennis Day Inconvenience Yourself Day National Banana Bread Day National Hospitality Workers Appreciation Day National Tile Day Pink Shirt Day in Canada Fun Observances International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day February 23 is Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day. Show your appreciation for your furry canine friends by spoiling them with their favorite dog biscuits. Dog biscuits, or dog bread as they were known then, have been part of human-canine history since Roman times. Bad Bread For a large part of history, dog bread was considered bad, low-quality bread unfit for human consumption. It is thought that modern day dog biscuits were created by American inventor James Pratt sometime in the 19th century. Toothbrush Today, there are hundreds of types of dog biscuits, many of which claim that they can help maintain your dog's oral health by acting as a "toothbrush" cleaning the dog's teeth. The origins of this holiday are unknown, and it is also known as Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day or National Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day in the U.S. How to Celebrate? They say that a dog is a man’s best friend – they shower you with unconditional love and are always there for you. So, give your dog all your love on Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day. Treat your dog with his or her favorite biscuits. Better still, bake them at home – they will surely appreciate it! Did You Know… …that dogs can express about 100 types of expressions using mostly their ears? *** As a professor at Texas A&M, I taught during the day and did research at night. I would usually take a break around nine, however, calling up the strategy game Warcraft on the Internet and playing with an online team. One night I was paired with a veteran of the game who was a master strategist. With him at the helm, our troops crushed opponent after opponent, and after six games we were undefeated. Suddenly, my fearless leader informed me his mom wanted him to go to bed. "How old are you?" I typed. "Twelve," he replied. "How old are you?" Feeling my face redden, I answered, "Eight." *** While my friend Emily was visiting her mother, they went for a walk and bumped into an old family acquaintance. "Is this your daughter?" the woman asked. "Oh, I remember her when she was this high. How old is she now?" Without pausing, Emily's mother said, "Twenty-four." Emily, 35, nearly fainted on the spot. After everyone had said their good-byes, Emily asked her mother why she'd told such a whopper. "Well," she replied, "I've been lying about my age for so long, it suddenly dawned on me that I'd have to start lying about yours too." *** An acquaintance of mine was hired as a research assistant by the physics department of a West Coast university to investigate the thermodynamic properties of wood. Two weeks after starting work he was approached by an encyclopedia salesman who explained that purchase of the encyclopedia entitled the buyer to have any three special questions answered completely. To save himself a great deal of work, the researcher bought the encyclopedia, stipulating for his first free question a full dissertation on the thermodynamic properties of wood. Three weeks later the head of the physics department called the research assistant into his office and said, "We have a request from an encyclopedia company. One of their customers has asked for a report on the thermodynamic properties of wood. Please prepare the report for them." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 22nd 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Birthday of Scouting and Guiding founder Robert Baden-Powell and Olave Baden-Powell, and its related observance: Founder's Day or "B.-P. day" (World Organization of the Scout Movement) World Thinking Day (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) Christian feast day: Baradates Eric Liddell (Episcopal Church (USA)) Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter (Roman Catholic Church) Margaret of Cortona February 22 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Crime Victims Day (Europe) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Saint Lucia from the United Kingdom in 1979. Washington's Birthday, federal holiday in the United States. A holiday on February 22 as well as the third Monday in February.[83] National Cat Day (Japan) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Cook a Sweet Potato Day World Yoga Day National Walking the Dog Day Digital Learning Day National Margarita Day World Spay Day Fun Observances ( 2 ) Single Tasking Day You may have been praised for your multitasking skills, but have you ever tried single tasking i.e. doing only one thing at a time? Try it on February 22, Single Tasking Day. The made-up holiday clearly wants to encourage people to devote all their time and energy on accomplishing one task at a time. Some people also celebrate it on February 19. Multitasking Lowers Productivity Recent studies have shown that multitasking - the ability to focus on more than one task at any given time, can be less effective and productive than previously thought. Multitasking can also decrease the accuracy of certain tasks. This is because when one shifts from one task to another, the brain needs time to change focus. This can lead to a waste of time and can cause a lot of stress. Time management can also become an issue for multitaskers. Increase Accuracy and Productivity Productivity experts suggest that the best way to accomplish something well is to direct all of one's energy and time on the task. Single tasking increases engagement and helps reduce errors. By improving productivity and accuracy, single tasking can help reduce stress and other health problems that are stress-related. How to Celebrate? Make a list of all the tasks you want to accomplish and go down the list one at a time. Cut off all distractions. Switch off your phone, block the Internet, close your office door, and get started on your list. It may be hard now, but when you are done, you will be proud of yourself! Did You Know… …that according to research only about 2% of people can effectively multitask? The rest tend to be less productive when they multitask. ~~~~~~~ Be Humble Day Practice humility on February 22 or Be Humble Day. Cultures, religions, and philosophies around the world stress the importance of practicing humility in our daily lives. The holiday promotes the idea that accepting our errors and our faults makes us better human beings. So, take this day to listen to others, not boast about one’s own life and achievements, and to accept that we have faults that we need to work on. How to Celebrate? Appreciate other people's achievements. Take the day to introspect and think of ways to make your life better and to move towards perfection. If you have children in your life, give them a lesson in humility and teach them that humility is a good virtue to have. Did You Know… …that the term humble pie, meaning to apologize after a serious error, comes from a mispronunciation of the world umble pie? Umble pie was a type of pie popular among people with little means in medieval times. *** Working as a secretary at an international airport, my sister had an office adjacent to the room where security temporarily holds suspects. One day security officers were questioning a man when they were suddenly called away on another emergency. To the horror of my sister and her colleagues, the man was left alone in the unlocked room. After a few minutes, the door opened and he began to walk out. Summoning up her courage, one of the secretaries barked, "Get back in there, and don't you come out until you're told!" The man scuttled back inside and slammed the door. When the security people returned, the women reported what had happened. Without a word, an officer walked into the room and released one very frightened telephone repairman. *** My older son loves school, but his younger brother absolutely hates it. One weekend he cried and fretted and tried every excuse not to go back on Monday. Sunday morning on the way home from church, the crying and whining built to a crescendo. At the end of my rope, I finally stopped the car and explained, "Honey, it's a law. If you don't go to school, they'll put Mommy in jail." He looked at me, thought a moment, then asked, "How long would you have to stay?" *** I was on duty as an emergency-room technician when a father brought in his son, who had poked a tire from one of his toy trucks up his nose. The man was embarrassed, but I assured him this was something kids often do. I quickly removed the tire and they were on their way. A few minutes later, the father was back in the ER asking to talk to me in private. Mystified, I led him to an examining room. "While we were on our way home," he began, "I was looking at that little tire and wondering, how on earth did my son get this thing stuck up his nose and…" It took just a few seconds to get the tire out of Dad's nose. *** *** Swansea Uni study: African wild dogs 'sneeze to vote' - BBC News *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 21st 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Armed Forces Day (South Africa) Birthday of King Harald V (Norway) Christian feast day: Felix of Hadrumetum Pepin of Landen Peter Damian Randoald of Grandval February 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Father Lini Day (Vanuatu) Language Movement Day (Bangladesh) International Mother Language Day (UNESCO)[38] The first day of the Birth Anniversary of Fifth Druk Gyalpo, celebrated until February 23. (Bhutan) The first day of the Musikahan Festival, celebrated until February 27. (Tagum City, Philippines) Feralia (Ancient Rome) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Sticky Bun Day Daisy Gatson Bates Day Family Day Islander Day Nova Scotia Heritage Day Presidents' Day ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mon Feb 21st, 2022 - Sun Mar 6th, 2022 Fairtrade Fortnight Mon Feb 21st, 2022 - Sun Feb 27th, 2022 National Engineers Week *** Which windshield wiper blade always quits first? That's right—the driver's side. This happened to me one day while driving home in the middle of a blinding storm. Unable to see, I pulled over and tried to figure out a quick fix. I found it in a yellow cotton work glove that was lying on the floor. I wedged the cloth hand under the wiper arm. It did a great job keeping my windshield clear. Not only that— you'd be surprised at how many people waved back. *** Our Lamaze class included a tour of the pediatric wing at the hospital. When a new baby was brought into the nursery, all the women tried to guess its weight, but the guy standing next to me was the only male to venture a number. "Looks like 9 1⁄2 pounds," he offered confidently. "This must not be your first," I said. "Oh, yes, it's my first." "Then how would you know the weight of a baby?" He shrugged. "I'm a fisherman." *** We purchased an old home in northern New York State from two elderly sisters. Winter was fast approaching, and I was concerned about the house's lack of insulation. "If they could live here all those years, so can we!" my husband confidently declared. One November night the temperature plunged to below zero, and we woke up to find interior walls covered with frost. My husband called the sisters to ask how they had kept the house warm. After a brief conversation, he hung up. "For the past 30 years," he muttered, "they've gone to Florida for the winter." *** *** *** *** *** A brief history of the Molotov cocktail *** How a British Officer Disabled A German Armored Vehicle With An Umbrella in the Heat of Battle *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 20th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Eleutherius of Tournai Eucherius of Orléans Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto Frederick Douglass (Episcopal Church (USA)) Wulfric of Haselbury February 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of Heavenly Hundred Heroes (Ukraine) World Day of Social Justice[38] Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Love Your Pet Day National Handcuff Day World Whale Day National Cherry Pie Day National Muffin Day Clean Out Your Bookcase Day Hoodie Hoo Day Mizoram State Day National Comfy Day No Politics Day World Day of Social Justice Rihanna’s Birthday *** At the busy dental office where I work, one patient was always late. Once when I called to confirm an appointment, he said, "I'll be about 15 minutes late. That won't be a problem, will it?" "No," I told him. "We just won't have time to give you an anesthetic." He arrived early. *** As a promotional gimmick for my restaurant, I send out coupons offering people a free dinner on their birthdays. One day an anxious-sounding man called. "I got your card. How did you find me?" "From a mailing list I purchased from a supplier," I told him. "Why?" "It used my real name, and I'm in the Witness Protection Program. What's the name of the company?" I didn't want to say it, but I had to tell him the truth: Moving Targets. *** My musical director wasn't happy with the performance of one of our percussionists. Repeated attempts to get the drummer to improve failed. Finally, in front of the orchestra, the director said in frustration, "When a musician just can't handle his instrument, they take it away, give him two sticks and make him a drummer!" A stage whisper was heard from the percussion section: "And if he can't handle that, they take away one of his sticks and make him a conductor." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Egyptian authorities detained a stork last week on suspicion of espionage, mistaking its migration tag for spying equipment. In fact the stork was innocent - like a number of other animals falsely accused over the years of undercover work, writes Mohamed Madi. In 2011, Saudi authorities arrested a high-flying vulture on suspicion that it was flying missions for Israel's famously ingenious Mossad agency. And a spate of shark attacks near the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in 2010 was blamed by one TV station on GPS-controlled predators planted by Israel in order to harm the Egyptian tourism industry. Iran has also felt threatened by animal agents. In 2007 the Iranian army arrested a team of 14 "spy squirrels" found near a nuclear enrichment plant. Officials said they succeeded in apprehending the suspects "before they were able to take any action". However, not all reports of pets on patrol are as far-fetched as they seem. Animals have been serving in the military as early as 1908, when Germans first attached cameras to pigeons to take aerial photographs. Some programmes have been more successful than others. The CIA's attempt to implant listening devices into a cat - dubbed Operation Acoustic Kitty - ended in failure on day one, when the kitty was run over by a car outside the Soviet embassy in Washington DC. The project was estimated to have cost more than $14m. Another failed project was the equally outlandish Bat Bomb, tried by the US in WWII, where bats were strapped to mini-incendiary devices and dropped over Japan. The idea was for them to roost inside wooden Japanese buildings before bursting into flames. The atomic bomb ultimately proved more effective. Perhaps the most successful recruits from the animal world have been dolphins. The US and Russia have confirmed the existence of marine mammal training programmes, where dolphins and seals are trained to identify underwater mines and disable enemy swimmers. But just like young soldiers, dolphins have hormones, and can go awol. In March this year Ukraine's Defence Ministry had to deny reports that three military dolphins had escaped and were roaming the Black Sea in search of sex. *** *** sandrewn

February 19th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Armed Forces Day (Mexico) Brâncuși Day (Romania) Christian feast day: Barbatus of Benevento Boniface of Brussels Conrad of Piacenza Lucy Yi Zhenmei (one of Martyrs of Guizhou) February 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Commemoration of Vasil Levski (Bulgaria) Flag Day (Turkmenistan) Shivaji Jayanti (Maharashtra, India) Observances (click on the day or week for details) World Pangolin Day International Tug of War Day Constantin Brancusi Day Iwo Jima Day National Lash Day National Vet Girls ROCK Day ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sat Feb 19th, 2022 - Sun Feb 27th, 2022 Real Bread Week Fun Observances Chocolate Mint Day Chocolate Mint Day on February 19 is devoted to the classic combination of chocolate and mint Chocolate goes well with almost everything, but there is one chocolate pairing that is classic – chocolate and mint. So, it is only fair that the United States National Confectioners Association has declared February 19 to be Chocolate Mint Day in honor of this hugely popular flavor pairing. Chocolate Every Day Chocolate is a very popular theme for a fun holiday. Other chocolate flavored holidays are Chocolate Pudding Day, Milk Chocolate Day, Chocolate Pecan Pie Day, Chocolate Milkshake Day, Chocolate Cupcake Day, Chocolate Covered Anything Day, and Chocolate Cake Day. How to Celebrate? Introduce chocolate and mint pairings in each of your meals. Have a chocolate mint latte for your morning cup of coffee, or add chocolate chips and some mint to your cereal. Replace your main course with a big slice (or two) of chocolate mint cake, and follow it with chocolate mint ice cream. Did You Know… …that there is an herb called mint chocolate whose leaves taste like chocolate mint? *** While walking through a Dallas airport, my dentist ran into a group of folks from his hometown. Among them was one of his patients. When he said hello, she gave him a curious look, saying he looked familiar but she could not quite place him. "Lean back and look up at me," he suggested. She did. "Oh! Dr. Harrison!" *** My father’s secretary was visibly distraught one morning when she arrived at the office and explained that her children’s parrot had escaped from his cage and flown out an open window. Of all the dangers the tame bird would face outdoors alone, she seemed most concerned about what would happen if the bird started talking. Confused, my father asked what the parrot could say. “Well,” she explained, “he mostly says, ‘Here, kitty, kitty.’ ” *** Some newly married friends were visiting us when the topic of children came up. The bride said she wanted three children, while the young husband demurred, saying two would be enough for him. They discussed this discrepancy for a few minutes until the husband thought he'd put an end to things, saying boldly, "After our second child, I'll just have a vasectomy." Without a moment's hesitation, the bride retorted, "Well, I hope you'll love the third one like it's your own!" *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 18th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Bernadette Soubirous (France) Colmán of Lindisfarne Flavian of Constantinople Geltrude Comensoli Simeon of Jerusalem (Western Christianity) February 18 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Dialect Day (Amami Islands, Japan) Independence Day, celebrates the independence of the Gambia from the United Kingdom in 1965 Kurdish Students Union Day (Iraqi Kurdistan) National Democracy Day, celebrates the 1951 overthrow of the Rana dynasty (Nepal) Wife's Day (Konudagur) (Iceland) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Drink Wine Day National No One Eats Alone Day Pluto Day National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day National Caregivers Day National Crab Stuffed Flounder Day Thumb Appreciation Day Fun Observances Battery Day February 18 is Battery Day. It is a day to acknowledge the device that makes it possible for the smallest household items to the largest heavy-duty equipment to work smoothly. The unofficial holiday of unknown origins is also known as National Battery Day in the United States Converts Energy A battery is a device that converts chemical energy to electrical energy. It is thought that the term battery to describe such a device was first used by Benjamin Franklin because the setting of the capacitator he saw reminded him of a battery of cannons. How to Celebrate? Celebrate the day by swapping out old the old, dead batteries from your household items. Take all the old batteries to the recycling center. Check your smoke alarm and fire alarm batteries and replace them if needed. Learn the history and science behind batteries. Did You Know… …that according to some archeologists and historians, the earliest known battery in recorded human history can be traced back to as far as 2000 years ago? Known as the Baghdad Battery, the battery is a clay pot containing a metal tube and a metal rod. It is thought to have been discovered in the basement of the Baghdad Museum by German painter and archaeologist Wilhelm Konig, who suggested that the artifact was probably used as a battery. *** Exchange your shivers for some giggles as we celebrate the spring season with some of our silliest reader submissions: Stop and Smell the Softener I had spent the late winter months waiting impatiently for signs of spring. When the first warm, sunny Saturday arrived, I eagerly unlocked the storm door and stepped onto our patio deck. I was pleased by the sight of green sprouts and the sounds of singing birds. More than anything else, I delighted in the sweet aroma of the spring air. Knocking on the kitchen window, I beckoned to my wife to join me in enjoying the pleasures of the season. She quietly brought me back to earth when she reminded me that I was standing over the dryer vent, inhaling the scent of fabric softener. Your Sunday Best Our daughter, an ROTC cadet, was ordered to Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania for field exercises. Since it was the Easter season, she requested permission to attend church services on Palm Sunday. The troops were in the field at the time, so the commanding officer agreed only if there happened to be a church in the vicinity of their maneuvers. When a small country church was seen along the road, our daughter entered quietly, hoping to be unnoticed in spite of her leaf-and-branch camouflage. But all eyes turned upon her as a small child cried in amazement, "Look, somebody came as a palm!" Spring Fever One spring day I was taking the roll in my secretarial class at our local technical college. One of the sun worshipers was absent. "Cindy won't be here this afternoon?" I asked. "She went home to lay in the sun," a young woman in the front row answered. Trying to correct her grammar without embarrassing her before the class, I whispered, "Lie." Okay," she replied in astonishment. "Cindy got sick and went home." Standby, Soldier Every Easter our church stages an elaborate pageant. Last year the man who played Pontius Pilate had to work on the night of the dress rehearsal, and a chorus member substituted for him. As we began rehearsing Pilate's solo, the conductor stopped the orchestra. "Pilate, I don't hear you," he called out. "You're not loud enough." "Pilate is at work," a voice on the stage shouted back. "We've got our co-Pilate tonight." Signs of Spring In Ohio, spring is always eagerly awaited after the long, cold winters. When I arrived at work one day in mid-March, I noticed a sign gaily decorated with flowers and butterflies. It read: "Think Spring." The first day of spring blew in with a snowstorm and freezing temperatures, however, and another flowery sign was posted. This time the message read: "Forget Spring. Think Summer." Sleepless Saving Time Twice a year, we change the clocks for daylight-savings time. And twice a year, my normally punctual assistant arrives late to work the Monday after we do so. I finally had to find out why. "Do you have a problem remembering to spring forward or fall back?" I asked. "Oh, no," she said, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "What gets to me is staying up until 2 a.m. to change my clock." *** I admit it—I have a tendency to exaggerate, and I was afraid when I joined the Navy that my “creativity” might get me in trouble. But my fears were put to rest one day while getting into formation, which was determined by height. Now, I was shy of six feet tall, but when our drill sergeant called for all six-footers to line up, I stepped forward anyway. I instantly knew I was in the right outfit when I looked around. I was the tallest guy in line. *** Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were dining in New York. Ginger was resplendent in a ball gown and pearls, and Fred also sported evening wear. But the meal was marred when the waiter bringing their desserts tripped and covered Fred from head to toe in treacle sponge. “I’m terribly sorry,” said the waiter. “So you should be,” replied Fred. “Thanks to you, I’ve pudding on my top hat, pudding on my white tie, pudding on my tails.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 17th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Seven Founders of the Servite Order Alexis Falconieri Constabilis Donatus, Romulus, Secundian, and Companions Fintan of Clonenagh Janani Luwum (Anglican Communion) Lommán of Trim February 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Independence Day, celebrates the independence declaration of Kosovo in 2008, still partially recognized. Revolution Day (Libya) Observances (click on the day or week for details) World Human Spirit Day My Way Day Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day National Cabbage Day National Cafe au Lait Day Fun Observances Random Act of Kindness Day February 17, is a day to practice kindness and pay it forward. The unofficial holiday is also known as National Random Act of Kindness Day in the United States. One-Sided Concern Considered to be a core value of most religions and cultures, kindness is the act of showing concern for others, loved ones and strangers, without any expectations of any consideration in return. Spreads Happiness and Health Studies have shown that being compassionate not only helps other people, but also makes one happy and healthier. People who are kind are thought to have lower risk for heart and blood pressure-related diseases. September 1 in New Zealand In New Zealand, Random Act of Kindness Day or RAK has been celebrated on September 1 since 2004. Other kindness related holidays one can celebrate during the year include Be Kind to Lawyers Day and World Kindness Day. How to Celebrate? Every day should be a day to be kind, but here are some easy ways to spread kindness around on this day. Smile at a stranger at your bus stop. Say "thank you" to your bus driver for driving you safely. Compliment a friend. Buy your co-worker their favorite snack. Help your neighbor mow their lawn. Pay for the groceries of the person behind you in the checkout line. Did You Know… …that randomness is a mathematical concept? In statistics and probability, a random event means that it cannot be predicted. *** I worked at a boarding kennel where people leave their dogs and cats while on vacation. One morning I had taken a cat out of his cage, and after playing with him and replenishing his food and water, I put him back in. A few minutes later, I was surprised to see the feline at my feet, since the cage doors lock automatically when they’re shut. I couldn’t figure out how the cat escaped, until I bent down to pick him up and spied his nametag: “Houdini.” *** Living in a household with eight indoor cats requires buying large amounts of kitty litter, which I usually get in 25-pound bags—100 pounds at a time. When I was going to be out of town for a week, I decided to go to the supermarket to stock up. As my husband and I both pushed shopping carts, each loaded with five large bags of litter, a man looked at our purchases and queried, “Bengal or Siberian?” *** One night while I was cat-sitting my daughter’s indoor feline, it escaped outside. When it failed to return the following morning, I found the beast clinging to a branch about 30 feet up in a spindly tree. Unable to lure it down, I called the fire department. “We don’t do that anymore,” the woman dispatcher said. When I persisted, she was polite but firm. “The cat will come down when it gets hungry enough.” “How do you know that?” I asked. “Have you ever seen a cat skeleton in a tree?” she said. Two hours later the cat was back, looking for breakfast. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 16th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Abda of Edessa Elias and companions Juliana of Nicomedia (Catholic Church) Onesimus Charles Todd Quintard (Episcopal Church (USA)) February 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of the Shining Star (Kim Jong-il's Birthday) (North Korea) Restoration of Lithuania's Statehood Day, celebrate the independence of Lithuania from Russia and Germany in 1918 (Lithuania) Elizabeth Peratrovich Day (Alaska)[9] Observances (click on the day or week for details) Innovation Day National Tim Tam Day National Almond Day Makha Bucha Fun Observances Do a Grouch a Favor Day On February 16 or Do a Grouch a Favor Day, make someone’s day by doing something nice for them and getting them out of their funk. How to Celebrate? If you see someone who is grumpy, do something nice for them. Something as simple as a cheerful greeting and a smile can make someone’s day. If you know of someone who is having a hard time, make their day by taking them out for lunch or treat them to their favorite dessert. Be cheerful, remember happiness is contagious and your cheer may just rub off. Did You Know… …that Sesame Street, a children's TV show, has a number of characters called grouches? Grouches are always grouchy and unhappy, and usually live where there is trash. *** My boss yelled at me the other day, “You’ve got to be the worst train driver in history. How many trains did you derail last year?" I said, "Can’t say for sure, it’s so hard to keep track!" *** The public safety officer came up to a large mob of people outside a department store and asked, “What’s happening?” A mall officer replied, “These people are waiting to get the new Barbie doll.” The public safety officer shook his head and muttered, “Who can resist a Barbie queue?” *** Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent. *** Did you hear the news about that Chinese restaurant that got vandalized? It was an act of wonton destruction. *** “What’s wrong, Bubba?” asked the pastor. “I need you to pray for my hearing,” said Bubba. The pastor put his hands on 
Bubba’s ears and prayed. When he was done, he asked, “So how’s your hearing?” “I don’t know,” said Bubba. “It isn’t until next Tuesday.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Frank "Rocky" Fiegel | Popeye the Sailorpedia | Fandom *** *** *** Ancient Egyptian Pregnancy Test Survived Millennia Because It Worked | HowStuffWorks *** *** sandrewn

February 15th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Blessed Michał Sopoćko Claude de la Colombière Faustinus and Jovita Oswiu Quinidius Sigfrid of Sweden Thomas Bray (Episcopal Church) Walfrid February 15 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Earliest day on which Family Day can fall, while February 21 is the latest; celebrated on the third Monday in February. (parts of Canada) Earliest day on which Washington's Birthday can fall, while February 21 is the latest; celebrated on the third Monday in February. (United States) International Duties Memorial Day (Russia, regional) John Frum Day (Vanuatu) Liberation Day (Afghanistan) National Flag of Canada Day (Canada) Parinirvana Day, also celebrated on February 8. (Mahayana Buddhism) Singles Awareness Day Statehood Day (Serbia)[42] Susan B. Anthony Day (Florida, United States) The ENIAC Day (Philadelphia, United States) Total Defence Day (Singapore) Observances (click on the day or week for details) World Hippo Day Annoy Squidward Day Lantern Festival National I Want Butterscotch Day National Wisconsin Day St. Skeletor's Day Tourism Day Fun Observances Gumdrop Day February 15 is Gumdrop Day. Celebrate this day by treating yourself to a bowlful of the colorful, chewy, and delicious candy. This unofficial and fun holiday is also called National Gumdrop Day in the United States. Bright Colored Candy Gumdrops are brightly colored candy or sweets made of pectin or gelatin. The cone-shaped treats are typically covered in sugar and are usually fruit flavored. Gumdrops that are flavored with artificial spices like cinnamon and mint are called spice drops. Decoration for Cakes Generally cone shaped, gumdrops are often used to decorate cakes and gingerbread houses during Christmas time. Similar sweet tooth holidays are Gummi Worm Day and Candy Corn Day. How to Celebrate? It’s easy to celebrate this day. Just get a bag full of delicious gumdrops and enjoy them to your heart's content. Try and make gumdrops in your own kitchen. Share them with your family and friends. Did You Know… …that the world gelatin comes from Latin gelat, which means to freeze? *** My young son declared, “When 
I grow up, I’m going to marry you, Mommy.” “You can’t marry your own mother,” said his older sister. “Then I’ll marry you.” “You can’t marry me either.” He looked confused, so I explained, “You can’t marry someone in your own family.” “You mean I have to marry a total stranger?!” he cried. *** We had just finished tucking our five kids into bed when three-year-old Billy began to wail. Turns out, he had accidentally swallowed a penny and was sure he was going to die. Desperate to calm him, my husband palmed a penny that he had in his pocket and pretended to pull it from Billy’s ear. Billy was delighted. In a flash, he snatched it from my husband’s hand, swallowed it, and demanded, “Do it again!” *** My sister is a know-it-all who bristles at anyone's well-intentioned advice. But when our older sister gave her several clever tips, she was impressed. "I have to hand it to Pat," she told me. "She really is smart. Not Jeopardy! smart; more Wheel of Fortune smart." *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

@Palantir Interesting subject you chose to comment on. Two items I found about 'Flirting' : 1) Word of the week: Flirt Fritinancy: Word of the week: Flirt 2) This one I found had good advice then and great advice (now) for anyone reading it today, regardless of age or gender. Anti-Flirt Club - Wikipedia

February 14th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Cyril and Methodius, patron saints of Europe (Roman Catholic Church) Manchan Valentine (see also Valentine's Day) February 14 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Statehood Day (Arizona, United States) Statehood Day (Oregon, United States) Presentation of Jesus at the Temple (Armenian Apostolic Church) Parents' Worship Day (parts of India) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Organ Donor Day National Cream-Filled Chocolates Day International Book Giving Day Pet Theft Awareness Day Valentine’s Day National Impotence Day Read to Your Child Day ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mon Feb 14th, 2022 - Sun Feb 20th, 2022 International Flirting Week Random Acts of Kindness Week Great American Pizza Bake Freelance Writers Appreciation Week Mon Feb 14th, 2022 - Mon Feb 21th, 2022 National Nest Box Week Fun Observances ( 3 ) Clean Out Your Computer Day Have you been putting off cleaning out those old files on your desktop? Well, today is the day you should do it, because it is Clean Out Your Computer Day. Started in 2000 by the Institute of Business Technology, the day falls on the second Monday in February. A similar holiday called National Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day is celebrated in October. How to Celebrate Backup your computer, including all your files, documents, and pictures. Clean out your desktop. Delete or archive files that you have no use of or haven’t used in several months. Organize your folders, files and bookmarks. Uninstall all the programs you no longer used. Did You Know… …that the Perottina was the world’s first commercially marketed desktop? Launched in 1964, the computer was named after its inventor Pier Giorgio Perotto. ~~~~~~~ Ferris Wheel Day February 14 is Ferris Wheel Day, a day to honor the life and time of Ferris wheel inventor George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. Now a mainstay of theme parks and fairs, the Ferris wheel debuted at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, United States. How to Celebrate? Visit your closest theme park and spend time riding the Ferris wheel. Since it is also Valentine’s Day, why not take your loved one with you on a Ferris wheel? Learn more about the science and technology behind Ferris wheels. Did You Know… …that the world’s largest Ferris wheel is 167.6 m or 550 feet tall? The High Roller, as it is called, can be found in Las Vegas. ~~~~~~~ Library Lovers Day February 14 is not only Valentine’s Day, it's also Library Lover’s Day. It is a day to honor libraries, librarians, bookworms, and library lovers in your life. How to Celebrate? Show your appreciation for your library and your librarian by volunteering your time helping out at the library or by donating money to your local library to add to their collections. Visit your local library and check out books or films. If you know someone – a friend or a family member – who does not have a library membership, now is the chance for you to encourage them to get one. Did You Know… …that the Library of Congress in Washington DC, United States, is the largest library in the world? *** My dad used to sing little ditties. This was my favorite: There was a young lady named Mabel. She danced on the dining room table. Her face grew red, When the gentleman said ... “Look at the legs on that table!” *** 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. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 13th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Children's Day (Myanmar) Christian feast day: Absalom Jones (Episcopal Church (USA)) Beatrice of Ornacieux Castor of Karden Catherine of Ricci Ermenilda of Ely Fulcran Jordan of Saxony Polyeuctus (Roman Catholic Church) February 13 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Observances (click on the day or week for details) World Marriage Day National Tortellini Day Madly In Love With Me Day Employee Legal Awareness Day Get a Different Name Day Galentine's Day Super Bowl Sunday International Condom Day International Natural Day Mother's Day Norway National Apology Day National Cheddar Day National Crab Rangoon Day National Internet Friends Day ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sun Feb 13th, 2022 - Sat Feb 19th, 2022 National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week National Jell-O Week Take Your Family to School Week National Kraut and Frankfurter Week Children of Alcoholics Awareness Week Sun Feb 13th, 2022 - Mon Feb 21st, 2022 National Condom Week Fun Observances World Radio Day On February 13 or World Radio Day, take the time to honor the role of radio in the world of communication and its contribution in our daily lives. The holiday was created by the United Nations (UN) in 2011 as a way to celebrate the start of UN radio in 1946. It also aims to raise awareness about the role that radios play in society. Russia celebrates Communications Workers' Day on May 7 to commemorate the date in 1895 when Alexander Popov, a Russian physicist, successfully demonstrated a working radio transmitter. Bulgaria also celebrates the day but calls it Radio and Television Day. How to Celebrate? Learn more about the history and science of radios. Learn how to build your own radio – you never know when you may need to make one. Give your time and money to organizations working on bringing radio communications to many isolated parts of the world. Did You Know… …that the Spanish Academy of Radio had originally proposed to create a World Radio Day on October 30? On this day in 1938, a performance of War of the Worlds by Orsen Wellß was aired over the radio. *** One day, my physician father treated himself to a plate of raw oysters and offered to share them with me. Just as I was about to dig in, he picked up an oyster, examined it, and commented, “They remind me of infected tonsils.”And that’s the story of how he ended up eating the entire plate of oysters himself. *** My six-year-old loved his pet fish. He watched and fed it faithfully, morning and night. But one day while he was in school, his fish died, so I flushed it down the toilet. I told him when he got home, and he was inconsolable. Nothing I said helped. After a while, I asked, “Why are you crying so much?” Arching his back, he shouted, “I wanted to flush!” *** Two regulars are sitting at a bar when one of them casually points to a couple of drunks across from them. “That’s us in ten years,” he says. His friend takes a sip from his beer, sets it down on the bar, turns to his friend, and slurs, “That’s a mirror.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 12th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Benedict of Aniane Damian of Alexandria Julian the Hospitaller Martyrs of Abitinae February 12 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Georgia Day (Georgia (U.S. state)) Lincoln's Birthday (United States) Red Hand Day (United Nations) Union Day (Myanmar) Youth Day (Venezuela) Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Lost Penny Day National Plum Pudding Day National Freedom to Marry Day Safety Pup Day Fun Observances Darwin Day Darwin Day is held annually on or around February 12, the birthday of Charles Darwin. The unofficial holiday honors the life and work of English naturalist Charles Darwin. Also known as International Darwin Day, the day is a celebration of science and humanity. Theory of Evolution Born in 1809, Charles Darwin revolutionized the field of natural history by putting forth the theory of evolution by natural selection. In his book On the Origins of Species published in 1859, he argued that all present-day life forms on Earth came from a single ancestor and that diversity in the animal and plant kingdom came about due to natural selection, migration, extinction, and genetic mutations. Celebrated Worldwide While initially contested, Darwin's theory of evolution is now widely accepted as fact and theory in the scientific community. Darwin Day has been celebrated off and on since his death in 1882. In 2000, three Darwin fans, Dr. Robert Stephens, Prof. Massimo Pigliucci, and Amanda Chesworth created the Darwin Day Program. The program was later named the Darwin Day Celebration, a non-profit organization committed to science education. Today Darwin Day celebrations are held all around the world. How to Celebrate? Get a crash course on evolution and natural selection. Read Charles Darwin's book The Origin of Species. Visit your local natural history museum and spend the day among dinosaur bones. Did You Know… …that the full title of Darwin’s seminal book is: On the Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life? *** Ed: I bought the world’s worst thesaurus yesterday. Fred: How bad is it? Ed: Not only is it awful, it’s awful. *** Q: What weighs more, a gallon of water or a gallon of butane? A: The water. Butane is lighter fluid. *** I went to a smoke shop to discover that it has been replaced by an apparel store. Clothes, but no cigar. *** Q: If you're an American in the kitchen, what are you when you're in the bathroom? A: European! *** 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." *** " I'll be calling Ewe " *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn

February 11th 2022 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Blaise Eastern Orthodox liturgics[267] Cædmon, first recorded Christian poet in England, circa 680 CE (Anglicanism)[268] Gobnait[269] Gregory II[188] Lazarus of Milan[270] European 112 Day (European Union)[271] Armed Forces Day (Liberia)[272] Evelio Javier Day (Panay Island, the Philippines)[273] Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes (Catholic Church), and its related observance[1] World Day of the Sick (Roman Catholic Church)[274] Inventors' Day (United States)[275] National Foundation Day (Japan)[1] Youth Day (Cameroon)[1] International Day of Women and Girls in Science (UN Women)[276] Observances (click on the day or week for details) National Peppermint Patty Day Pro Sports Wives Day Satisfied Staying Single Day National White Shirt Day Get Out Your Guitar Day National Latte Day Fun Observances ( 2 ) Make a Friend Day Make a Friend Day on February 11 is an unofficial holiday that encourages people to stop and take stock of their friend list and make new friends. Humans are social animals and we need friends to feel fulfilled and happy. But sometimes in the daily rush of our lives not only do we tend to ignore our old friends, but we also forget to make new friends. Make a Friend Day inspires people to step out their comfort zone and try to meet new people and become friends with them. More Tolerant Making new friends can help people broaden their horizons and learn about different cultures and parts of the society. Research has shown that people with diverse group of friends are more tolerant, open to new ideas, and empathetic than people who have a small or a non-diverse group of friends. How to Celebrate? Say hello to new people and make new friends. Attend events in the city where you can meet like-minded and interesting people. Be adventurous and attend an event that you may never have thought about attending. Who knows you may even meet your future best friends there! Did You Know… …that studies have shown that on average people will remain long-term friends with 1 out of every 12 people they consider to be friends? ~~~~~~~ Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day February 11 is Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day, an annual reminder that nothing good ever comes out of holding on to regrets. The name of the holiday comes from the English language idiom crying over spilled milk, which means to be sad over something that cannot be undone. Just like nothing can be done once milk has been spilled, one must not worry about something that is in the past. Learning From Our Mistakes We all make regrettable decisions in life. And while it is important to apologize to people whom our bad decisions may have affected, set things right for them, and learn from our mistakes, we must also ensure that we don’t spend more time than necessary on regret. Regretting Regret Studies have shown that long-term regret – that includes disappointment, remorse, shame, anger, and embarrassment over one’s actions – can have a negative effect on one’s mental and physical well-being. By focusing energy and thoughts on a past event, long-term regret can stop people from re-engaging with life and can often cripple a person’s decision-making process. Holding on to regret can also be stressful to the person’s body by negatively impacting his or her immune system. Regretful people are more prone to being sick, have more mental health issues, and they tend to attract fewer people socially than those who do not hold on to any form of regret. How to Celebrate? If you have any regrets, today is the day to start letting go of them. We won’t tell you that it will be easy, but once you start the process, you won’t regret it! Did You Know… ...that there are 3 types of tears – basal, reflex and emotional? Basal tears are what keep our eyes moist throughout the day, while our eyes secrete reflex tears when dust or a foreign particle irritates them. Emotional tears are the tears we are all familiar with; we shed them when we are experiencing a range of emotions - anger, sadness, guilt, happiness, and joy. *** Our booking office had three phones. One day during lunch, I was responsible for answering all of them. It was a constant repeat of “May I help you?” or “Will you hold?” I guess I got confused because I surprised one man on the other end of the line when I answered his call with, “May I hold you?” *** I’m known as a stickler for good spelling. So when an associate e-mailed technical documents and asked me to “decifer” them, I had to set him straight. “Decipher is spelled with a ph, not an f,” I wrote. “In case you’ve forgotten, spellchecker comes free with your Microsoft program.” A minute later came his reply: “Must be dephective.” *** With the economy improved, 
my son, Pat, finally found a job in electrical engineering. Pat traveled to various locales to analyze and fix problems with his company’s equipment. Yet it frustrated him that his employer gave him little training. One day Pat heard about some training classes coming up and asked if he might attend. “Oh, sure,” his boss said. “You’re going to be the instructor.” *** *** *** *** *** *** Moriusaq - Wikipedia *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn I am a huge snooker fan. I watched that game when Ronnie O'Sullivan missed the maxim (147), by one point (146) on purpose. Here it is if you are interested. Ronnie O'Sullivan Refuses 147 in Protest, Prize Is Too Low [Full Frame] - YouTube