Showing posts with label calendar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label calendar. Show all posts

Friday, November 11, 2011

Elevens Anyone?

Just in case you're looking to take a small break as you adjust to having to get everything ready on the first short Friday, a glance at a clock and at a calendar should put a smile on your face. As I am typing this it is 11/11/'11, 11:11am. And if you're still up, you can smile again tonight when it's 11/11/'11,11:11pm. Even a small moment of smiling can brighten a busy day.

Friday, June 3, 2011

If You're a Fan

Today is National Doughnut Day. Yup, we've raised this doughy treat to national observation status. Should you be a fan there are all kinds of specials being run today by the various doughnut purveryors. For instance, Dunkin Doughnuts is offering a free doughnut with the purchase of any drink.

Friday, January 28, 2011

What's on the Calendar

Still looking to celebrate? Perhaps one of the following will help.

Data Privacy Day
Fun at Work Day

Daisy Day
Rattlesnake Round-Up Day
National Blueberry Pancake Day
Serendipity Day
Live Your Fantasies Day
U.S. Coast Guard Birthday--1915
Ski Tow Birthday--1938 in Woodstock, Vermont
PopArt Day--Birthday of Jackson Pollack 1912
Christa McAuliffe Day--in memoriam; Challenger exploded in 1986

A Happy Birthday to Ernie of Sesame Street

Thursday, January 27, 2011

When the Profound Gets Politicized

January 27 has been established as Holocaust Remembrance Day, an international day of remembering those who perished in the Holocaust. The following comes from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum site:



"January 27 marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly designated this day as International Holocaust Remembrance Day (IHRD), an annual day of commemoration to honor the victims of the Nazi era. Every member nation of the U.N. has an obligation to honor the memory of Holocaust victims and develop educational programs as part of an international resolve to help prevent future acts of genocide. The U.N. resolution that created IHRD rejects denial of the Holocaust, and condemns discrimination and violence based on religion or ethnicity."

In addition

"The United States officially commemorates the Holocaust during Days of Remembrance, which is held each April, marking the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. The Museum is mandated by the U.S. Congress to lead the nation in commemorating this day."



Certainly some impressive words in that UN resolution, but as Hamlet said, " it is a custom more honour'd in the breach than the observance," or perhaps we should look at Gertrude in the same play, when she says "More matter with less art."

Noticed any heartfelt observances in a whole lot of those UN member countries? Are you imagining Iran or Iraq condemning discrimination and violence based on religion or ethnicity and including Jews?

Whoever else in the world will take today to reflect on the atrocities of the Holocaust, well they are doing the right thing. But for those of us most affected by those past events, what excuse do we have for not observing this admittedly secular day of remembrance? As we proceed further and further from those hellish days, as we add generation after generation, what transpired during the Holocaust becomes murkier and murkier. For our children and grandchildren the Holocaust is history rather than definitive moment.

Perhaps it's time to pay attention to that old saying: "Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it." And then there is this: How do we expect others to remember what transpired during the Holocaust, to use this day to reflect on the horrors of history, when we, ourselves, ignore the day?

It's sad really, that the world needs one day to remember what was truly a defining event of the last century and that will have impact on the centuries to come. Sadder yet that the day will pass for many Jews without even a nod of acceptance or remembrance.




What's on the Calendar

At last, a few days I'm fully in favor of.

Auschwitz Liberation Day
Holocaust Memorial Day
International Commemoration Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
National Toilet Day/Thomas Crapper Day
Vietnam Peace Day

Chocolate Cake Day
Punch the Clock Day

A happy belated birthday to: Mozart-1756, Lewis Carroll-1832

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

What's on the Calendar

Just who thought up some of today's holidays?!

Cockroach race day
National Peanut Brittle Day
Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement

National Peanut Brittle Day
Television's Birthday--1926

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Yes, Computers need Cleaning too

Kind of flukey that this happens to be National Clean Up Your Computer Month, because cleaning up my computer is on the schedule for today. A whole lot of people view their computers as a bottomless pit--what goes in never goes out.

You know all those files that you've been keeping because you never know just when you might need them? Time to be truthful--what are the chances that you might need to know how to cure thrips on a sword plant, especially since you no longer own the plant in question or never owned it? Yup, you hosted a meeting for a group of teens who were looking to start a chesed project in the neighborhood--12 years ago. Do you really need to know now who was invited and what you served as refreshments? You took a vacation in 2003 and there are the packing lists still in their own file. You downloaded a program or gizmo from the Internet and haven't used it in years.

A whole lot of information gets put on our computers, and a whole lot of it needs to be taken off the computer at some point. It's not just the long term storage that needs to be cleaned out however. Are you on the Internet a lot? Do you play games online? Are there sites you visit regularly? All those places you go to are going to be held in your Temporary Internet Files. Keep too much in those files and you can affect the run-time and functioning of your computer. It's a good idea to get into the daily habit of cleaning out these types of files. Just click on Tools, and then on Internet Options. Next click on Browsing History. Here's where you might want to take a breath before continuing. Among the things you can delete are Temporary Files, Saved Passwords, History, Cookies and Web Form Information. Some of these files are used by sites that you visit regularly to log you in to the site. Before you erase any of these files you might want to ask yourself if you remember your user name/log in name and password for the site. You might not want to erase these types of files. However, the Temporary files should surely be erased.

And then there is the physical cleaning of the computer. Lots of people who like to eat while at their computers--steaming cups of coffee or tea and lots of crumb-producing foods right there by your monitor and keyboard. It's just amazing what type of things can find their way between the keys on your keyboard. And all that steam is going to go somewhere, and that somewhere may be your monitor screen. To get the most out of your monitor and keyboard, set a time in your mind to do some maintenance, and then remember to do it. [Note: check your computer manual for recommended methods of cleaning the computer parts. It is not recommended by most manufacturers to just spray window cleaner on the monitor screen.] And just a word about your mouse--cold and flu season is with us, and frequently the germs are passed on hand to hand, or in this case, hand to mouse to hand. Clean your mouse regularly.

My resident computer expert pointed out to me that when run-time slows down or storage becomes tight or a whole slew of other annoyances occur, most people's first thought is that there is a physical problem with the computer. His recommendation is to do some housekeeping first--cleaning cache can eliminate a whole slew of these annoyances.

What's on the Calendar

An interesting day of observances unfolding:

Better Business Communication Day
A Room of One's Own Day
Macintosh Computer Day
National Speak Up and Succeed Day

Flouride Day
Fun at Work Day
Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day

Monday, January 24, 2011

What's on the Calendar

To begin the week with a bang, some things to celebrate:

Belly Laugh Day
Beer Can Day
Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
National Compliment Day
"Just Do It" Day
Women's Healthy Weight Day



Sunday, January 23, 2011

What's on the Calendar

Quite a selection of things to celebrate today:

Spouses Day
Measure Your Feet Day
Find Your Roots Day
National Handwriting Day
Pie Day
Cold, Cold, Cold Day--lowest temperature ever recorded in the US was on this day in 1971:-79.8 degrees F
Compliment Day

Friday, January 21, 2011

What's on the Calendar

For those seriously desperate to be celebrating something:

1. International Fetish Day
2. National Hug Day

3. Squirrel Appreciation Day
4. Granola Bar Day

Thursday, January 20, 2011

What's on the Calendar

Feel like celebrating today? Holidays on today's calendar are:

1. Camcorder Day
2. Get to Know Your Customer Day
3. Inauguration Day
4. National Disc Jockey Appreciation Day
5. Women's Healthy Weight Day
6. Women in Blue Jeans Days--20-22

7. National Cheese Day
8. National Buttercrunch Day
9. Take a Walk Outdoors Day
10. Roller Coaster Patent Day--1885

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

What's on the Calendar

Holidays on the calendar to be celebrated today:

1. Tin Can Day--patented in 1825

2. A Good Friend Raises Your Spirits Day
3. Good Memory Day
4. Popcorn Day
5. National Penguin Awareness Day
6. International Sing-Out Day
7. New Friends Day
8. Brew a Potion Day

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

What's on the Calendar

Holidays on the calendar for celebration today:

1. Do Dah Parade Day
2. Thesaurus Day--Peter Roget's birthday in 1779
3. Winnie the Pooh Day--birthday of author A.A. Milne
4. National Sanctity of Life Day (Pro Life Day)
5. Rid the World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day

6. Maintenance Day
7. Get to Know Your Customers Day
8. Polygraph Day

Monday, January 17, 2011

What's on the Calendar

Holidays celebrated on this date:

1. National Cable Car Day--patented on this date in 1871
2. National Customer Service Day
3. National Judgement Day
4. National Kid Inventors Day
5. Hot Heads Chili Days--17-18
6. National Martin Luther King Day

7. Ditch Your New Years Resolutions Day
8. Professional Boxers Day
9. Elementary School Teachers Day--Third Monday of the month
10. Junk Food News Alert Day--Third Monday of the month
11Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's Birthday--Third Monday of the month

Happy Birthday to Benjamin Franklin, born in 1706, and Popeye, "born" in 1929
Oh yes, and happiest of birthdays to our son

Thursday, January 13, 2011

What's on the Calendar

For a lot of people, once New Years has come and gone January is a pretty blah month. Not so. There are some truly unique (okay, also some truly strange) weeks of celebration in January, not to mention some month-long celebrations. Some of these holidays I applaud whole heartedly--their subject matter needs to be front and center. With the others, I'd really, really like to know the reasoning behind celebrating them. If, however, you need a reason for getting into a celebratory mood (or just perhaps need a chuckle), try some of the following:

Week-long Celebrations:

Celebration of Life Week-Week One

Lose Weight, Feel Great Week - Week One

Diet Resolution Week - Week One

New Year's Resolutions Week - Week One

Women's Self Empowerment Week - Week One

Celebrate the Circus Week - Week Two

Home Office Safety and Security Week - Week Two

Law Enforcement Training Week (Always the first full week of the year)- Week Two

Universal Letter Writing Week- Week Two

National Thank-Your-Customers Week- Week Two

School Crossing Guard Week- Week Two

Special Education Week- Week Three

Cuckoo Dancing Week- Week Three

International Printing Week - Week Three

National Fresh Squeezed Juice Week- Week Three

National Skating Week - Week Three

Healthy Weight Week- Week Four

Hunt For Happiness Week - Week Four

National Glaucoma Week- Week Four

National Creative Frugality Week - Week Four

National Meat Week- Week Four

National Handwriting Analysis Week - Week Four

National Nurse Anesthetists Week - Week Four

Kiss A Shark Week -Week Four (Please don't really kiss a shark.)

Hot Air Balloon Week - Week Four

National Medical Group Practice Week - Week Four

Catholic Schools Week - 25 thru 31 (So how come yeshivas don't have their own week?)

Month-long celebrations:

Autism Awareness Month

Bald Eagle Watch Month

Bath Safety Month

Blended Family Month

Bread Machine Baking Month

Celebrate the Past Month

Celebration of Life Month

Cervical Health Awareness Month

Clean Up Your Computer Month

Clinical Trial Awareness Month

Coffee Gourmet International Month

Crime Stoppers Month

Everything's Possible Month

Family Fit Lifestyle Month

Fat Free Living Month

Financial Wellness Month

Fireside Warmth Month

Heavyweight Boxers Month

Home Fire Safety Month

Human Resource Month

Independent Bookstore Month

International Creativity Month

International Get Over It Month

International Life Balance Month

International Quality of Life Month

International Printing Month

It's OK to be Different Month

Jump Out of Bed Month

Learn Spanish Month

Love Yourself Month

Mail Order Gardening Month

March of Dimes Birth Defects Prevention Month

Market Ability Month

National Be On-Purpose Month

National Book Blitz Month

National Book Month

National Candy Month

National Careers in Cosmetology Month

National Credit Awareness Month

National Eye Health Care Month

National Facial Tissues Month

National Get Organized Month

National Glaucoma Awareness Month

National High-Tech Month

National Hobby Month

National Hot Tea Month

National Letter Writing Month

National Lose Weight, Feel Great Month

National Mentoring Month

National Polka Month

National Radio Month

National Radon Action Month

National Retail Bakers Month

National Returns Month

National Save Your Money Month

National Skating Month

National Soup Month

National Stamp Collectors Month

National Staying Healthy Month

National Thank You Month

National Transformation Thinking Month

Oatmeal Month

Personal Self-Defense Month

Poverty in America Month

Prunes for Breakfast Month Month

Reaching Your Potential Month

Volunteer Blood Donor Month

Yours, Mine & Ours Month

Thursday, November 11, 2010

On Veterans Day

To those men and women who put their lives on the line so that we may sleep easily in our beds, secure that the American way of life will remain strong, I say thank you. Thank you for being the front line protectors of our liberty, and for what you do so that others, too, may experience relief from despotism and oppression.

For those who came home after serving, thanks go to God for watching over them and returning them back to their loved ones. For those who gave their lives as the ultimate sacrifice for others, no words can say how much what they did resonates with us.

It would be altogether fitting and proper to take a moment and "salute" our veterans in recognition that we can take that moment freely and with no coercion because they did what was needed.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Today's the Day

Frankly, I don't care which political party you favor or which candidates. What I do care about is that you get up and go vote. Being able to vote is both a right and a privelege, and not exercising that right makes no sense. Plenty of people around the world who would give everything to have the right to decide what goes on in their country.

There are so many people who spend a lot of time complaining about the condition of our country, about the condition of our government, about the people in Congress. You can't complain about what goes on here if you are part of the problem rather than part of the solution.

Well, now's the chance to actually do something instead of just talking about it. Go out and vote!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Surely of Importance Now

In case any of you are wondering how you're going to fill your day today, having all that free time and nothing to do, someone, somewhere, has given you a perfect activity. Today is "Hug a Vegetarian Day." So go ahead, find a vegetarian and hug the dickens out of him/her. And when they scream for help loudly be sure to remind them that these special calendar days are part of our cultural uniqueness and tell them to just stand there quietly and get hugged. At least it beats getting mugged, sort of.

Did a little checking and there is no "Hug a Non-Vegetarian Day." I'm truly miffed. My civil rights are being violated. Time for a complaint to the Equal Opportunity Commission. How dare someone establish a day I can't participate in.

Friday, June 4, 2010

A Dozen Holes Please

You know those strange "official" days I've sometimes reported on? Well today is National Doughnut Day. You have to love a place where a food fetish is raised to observance status. And trust me, this day will get observed. The doughnut providers are looking to help you celebrate. For one, Dunkin Doughnuts is offering a free doughnut when you buy a cup of coffee. And to borrow a phrase from one of our other food fetish advertisements, I bet you can't eat just one.

Just a wry observance--Memorial Day and National Doughnut Day both fall in the same week. Which one do you suppose more people will have observed?