IOPList.Org

03 Feb 2017

Bubblegum Day

Quote:”For some reason, chewing gum for me gets my brain going.
– Brie Larson

That’s been our experience too. Something about keeping the jaw closed and chewing makes the brain just focus in and start concentrating. That’s why Bubble Game Day came into existence, with the twin goals of generating charity contributions and allowing kids to chew gum in school! So bring out your .50c, make a donation, and get to chew gum in school all day. Isn’t it about time you had something to take your mind off of Calculus?

History of Bubblegum Day

Bubblegum Day began in 2006, when author Ruth Spiro, decided that the world needed a day focused around education, philanthropy, and best of all bubble gum! It was such a phenomenal success that an entire institution built up around it, encourages philanthropy in children and allowing the school to support a charity that fits the beliefs and policies of the school. It’s not just schools either! Businesses, libraries, and community centers all have been known to hold events centered on Bubble Game Day, because charity isn’t limited to educational institutions.

Ruth Spiro produces some of the most amazing children’s books out there, including Lester Fizz, Bubble-Gum Artist, Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering, Baby Loves Quarks, and many other odd and quirky books aimed at giving children valuable information while entertaining them with bright colorful books aimed at engaging their mind.

She firmly believes that it’s never too early to engage children’s curiosity, and getting them asking questions about their world. Sure they probably aren’t going to be able to comment on these books at six months old, but it’s never too early to start packing their brains with interesting topics that can lead them to explore the world around them and love learning.



And



Working Naked Day



Yes, you did read the title correctly! There is such a thing as Working Naked Day! When you think about work, I’m sure nakedness isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. What about if you think about working from home? Still no? Well, if you did work from home, you could in theory work naked and who would know right? Well that is the whole idea for this holiday – to honor the freedom that working from home allows you.

History of Working Naked Day

Working Naked Day was founded by Lisa Kanarek. She created this day and in fact a brand called Working Naked®. She left a corporate job over 20 years ago, to start working from home. This was not the commonplace choice that it is today. Lisa stated that she didn’t even let on that she was working from home for the first five years for fear of not being taken seriously. My how things have changed! That, my friends, is exactly what Working Naked Day is all about! It is a day to celebrate the freedom and flexibility that working from home allows for. Tired of the stress filled commute? How about your commute being from the coffee pot in the kitchen to your office? I know which one I would pick! Want to trade your suits for bunny slippers and comfy clothes? Well this is how to do it!

Lisa points out that Working Naked® means different things to different people. Now we are speaking about more than how you dress before sitting down to work. For some, the thought of working from home leaves them feeling naked. No boss or coworkers to help if something goes awry. Sure, you might be able to track them down over the phone, but sometimes just knowing they are a few steps away can help.

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February 3 Birthdays



Amal Clooney - 39



Elizabeth Blackwell - (1821 - 1910) (89)



Morgan Fairchild - 67



Norman Rockwell - (1894 - 1978) (84)






February 3rd

2003: Record producer Phil Spector was arrested at his home in Alhambra, CA for the allegedly murdering actress Lana Clarkson.

1992: Pearl Jam kicked off their first tour of Europe at The Esplanade Club in Southend-on-Sea, U.K.

1990: Skid Row peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “I Remember You” which was their second and final top ten single in the U.S.

1979: To commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, & Ritchie Valens, a sold out concert took place at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, IA where the performers performed for the last time. On the bill was Del Shannon, The Drifters & Jimmy Clanton.

1978: Gerry Rafferty released “Baker Street” which went on to reach number two on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart making it his most successful solo single in the U.S.

1973: Wings peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Hi, Hi, Hi” which was their second top ten single in the U.S.

1969: Allen Klein was hired as the new manager of The Beatles against the wishes of Paul McCartney who wanted his father-in-law Lee Eastman to become their new manager. Klein’s involvement was a factor in The Beatles’ breakup the following year.

1961: Bob Dylan made his first recordings at the home of friends Sid & Bob Gleason in East Orange, NJ. Dylan’s recordings were versions of San Francisco Bay Blues and Jesus Met the Woman at the Well.

1959: Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens died in a plane crash in Clear Lake, IA en route to Fargo, ND for a concert. This crash would inspire Don McClean’s “American Pie”. Holly was 22 years old, The Big Bopper was 28 years old & Valens was 17 years old.



Birthdays:

Eric Haydock - Bassist for The Hollies born in 1942
Dave Davies - Guitarist for The Kinks born in 1947
Arthur Kane - Bassist for the New York Dolls born in 1949

04 Feb 2017


World Cancer Day



It is hard to find a person in society today that has not been touched by cancer in some way, either directly or indirectly. World Cancer Day hopes to honor those who are fighting and those who have been lost to this dreadful disease. Take a moment and sit with me while I tell you about this unique day of remembrance and determination. I promise you’ll understand the day more and be ready to take your part in helping others so that perhaps one day there will be some in society that are not touched by cancer.

History of World Cancer Day

World Cancer Day is a fairly new holiday to bring light to this ages old disease. At the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris, this day was formally organized by what is called the Paris Charter. The charter was created with many goals.The Paris charter aimed at promoting research for a prevention and cure for cancer. Also, the charter hopes to bring awareness and change to the services provided to patients. They knew that increased awareness and information would help to mobilize the global community to help combat cancer. In the spirit of this charter, World Cancer Day was created.

With the advent of World Cancer Day, it was hoped that it would keep the Paris Charter in the hearts and minds of people everywhere. The goals and ideas of the Charter will never be lost as long as there is even just one person to celebrate the day.



And



Thank A Letter Carrier Day

Quote:“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds”
– Motto on James Farley Post Office

We know these intrepid adventurers, and adventurers they are. They travel through every form of weather to bring us our mail, regardless of the temperature, or dangerous dogs in the front yard. They are the friend of every child around Christmas, or their birthdays, and even today there’s nothing quite like waiting for that Amazon delivery to come through the post. Thank A Letter Carrier Day reminds us to show our appreciation for these wonderful men and women, and the joy they bring us each day through the post.

History of Thank A Letter Carrier Day

The history of Thank A Letter Carrier Day is as old as the history of the post, and that may very well be longer than you think. The concept of mail was first recorded in Persia, or at the very least the first concept of an actual codified postal system was. King Cyrus the Great went to great lengths to ensure that mail could reach the corners of his Kingdom, and worked with neighboring countries to make sure that the mail got through and the system reached as far as it could. This process involved building roads and getting guards and massive diplomatic negotiations, but it lasted for a long time. The quote on James Farley Post Office is actually a rephrasing of a quote by Herodotus of Greece in the 5th Century BC.

“It is said that as many days as there are in the whole journey, so many are the men and horses that stand along the road, each horse and man at the interval of a day’s journey; and these are stayed neither by snow nor rain nor heat nor darkness from accomplishing their appointed course with all speed” – It doesn’t take much to identify the heart of that creed in the above statement. Thank A Letter Carrier Day reminds you to show your appreciation for someone continuing an idea that’s existed since before Christ.

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February 4 Birthdays



Rosa Parks - (1913 - 2005) (92)



Alice Cooper - 69



Charles Lindbergh - (1902 - 1974) (72)



Oscar De La Hoya - 44



Clint Black - 55



Conrad Bain - (1923 - 2013) (89)






February 4th

2003: Doors drummer John Densmore filed an injunction against guitarist Robbie Krieger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, Police drummer Stewart Copeland & The Cult singer Ian Astbury for touring as The Doors of the 21st Century.

2001: Jimmy Buffett was ejected from a Miami Heat-New York Knicks game in Miami for cursing at a referee.

1989: Guns N’ Roses became the first act in 15 years to have two albums in the top five of the Billboard 200 Album Chart. Appetite for Destruction was at number two & the EP G N’ R Lies was at number five.

1980: The Ramones released their fifth album End of the Century. The album was produced by Phil Spector & went on to become their highest charting album in the U.S. reaching number 44 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart.

1978: Queen peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “We Will Rock You”/”We Are the Champions” which was their second top ten single in the U.S.

1977: American Bandstand celebrated its 25th anniversary with a primetime special on ABC. Among the performers who appeared on the special included Gregg Allman, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Isaac Hayes, & Stevie Wonder.

1970: John Lennon & Yoko Ono donated a bag of their cut hair to Michael X for an auction to aid the Black Power movement. Michael X then gave them a pair of Muhammad Ali’s boxing shorts.

1968: The Beatles recorded “Across the Universe” at Abbey Road Studios in London. During the recording, John Lennon & Paul McCartney decided the song needed falsetto harmonies, so they invited two female fans into the studio to sing on the song.

1966: The Rolling Stones released “19th Nervous Breakdown”. The song would go on to peak at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.



Birthdays:

John Steel - Drummer for The Animals born in 1941

Alice Cooper born in 1948

Phil Ehart - Drummer for Kansas born in 1951

Jerry Shirley - Drummer for Humble Pie & Fastway born in 1952

05 Feb 2017


Western Monarch Day



Get out your tiara…wait no! It’s not that day. It is Western Monarch Day. It is a day to celebrate the Western Monarch butterfly. It travels from place to place but this day specifically we give thanks for their return to the central California coast. Why is this so important? It is important to watch and make sure that they do return. The monarch butterfly is facing a terrific decline in numbers. Many conservation groups are calling for it to be protected as an endangered species and claim that the number of declines could be as high as 90%!

History of Western Monarch Day

The Monarch butterfly is a stunning mix of grace and beauty. With rich tones of gold, red, yellow and orange they fly across the landscape and take over the job of pollination. They somehow know when it is time to move. Their migration can be tracked from north and east to south and west, and then back again. Amazingly each way of the migration takes four generations! Can you imagine? Taking into account how much they pollinate, and the fact that their migration takes such a toll on their population it is imperative to understand what their decline really means. Can you picture the toll when I say the decline of Monarch population is near 90%? Let me share a visual with you. Let’s talk people instead of insects. If we were to make a comparison, the loss to the butterfly would be as if all the people in the United States of America died except for those in Ohio and Florida. Stunning isn’t it?

With that picture in mind, can you now see why there is a Western Monarch Day? A day to bring awareness to this frightening decline? A day to find a way to make a difference!



And



National Chocolate Fondue Day



My two favorite things combine to make Chocolate Fondue Day! What does fondue conjure up when you hear it? I think melty, creamy, hot cheese that you dip a variety of breads and meat into. So, hold the phone, Chocolate Fondue Day? Oh yes! Get your dipping tools ready because it is time to melt down some great chocolate and get to work. I know you can do it, you can, right?

History of Chocolate Fondue Day

I’m sure that there has been chocolate fondue forever but now it has its own day. A full day of devotion! 24 hours of guilty pleasure for all the chocoholics out there. There is no guilt to be had when you are merely celebrating a holiday! That is what we tell ourselves during the winter holidays, so why not now? Makes perfect sense to me.

What exactly is fondue you may ask. Fondue is defined as a dish in which small pieces of food are dipped into a hot sauce or a hot cooking medium such as oil or broth. Even the definition makes my heart skip a beat! It doesn’t have to be just cheese as one normally thinks, and a prize should go to whoever was the first person to pop a chocolate bar into their fondue pot!

There are nice restaurants throughout the world that are making a name for themselves with fondue. If you have one in your city or town I would make time to stop in today to honor Chocolate Fondue Day. If there isn’t a fondue type eatery near you, you could head over to your favorite search engine and pick a few recipes and turn your dining room into a fondue heaven. Just invite some friends and pick up your skewers and have some fun!

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February 5 Birthdays



Al Kooper - 73



Christopher Guest/Nigel Tufnel - 69



Bobby Brown - 48



Hank Aaron - 83



Duff McKagan - 53



Trayvon Martin - (1995 - 2012) (17)







February 5th

2006: The Rolling Stones performed the halftime show of Super Bowl XL in Detroit. The NFL imposed a five-second delay & censored lyrics considered too explicit. The Stones had agreed to the censoring.

1998: Elton John & Stevie Wonder performed at a White House dinner for President Bill Clinton & U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair.

1991: Kiss drummer Peter Criss appeared on Donahue together with the man who claimed to be Criss in a story for The Star tabloid “Kiss Star Hits The Skids”.

1983: Def Leppard’s third album Pyromania entered the Billboard 200 Album Chart at number 69. The album would peak at number two, spend 116 weeks on the chart & sell ten million records in the U.S.

1981: Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau inducted Joni Mitchell into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the twelfth Juno Awards at the O’Keefe Centre in Toronto.

1972: Neil Young released “Heart of Gold”, which went on to become his first and only number one single in the U.S.

1972: Badfinger peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Day After Day” which was their third and final top ten single in the U.S.

1971: Black Sabbath began recording their third album Master of Reality at Island Studios in London. The album would go on to become their first top ten album in the U.S.

1957: Bill Haley & His Comets arrived in the U.K. to begin their tour of the U.K. Haley was the first American rock star to tour the U.K.



Birthdays:

Hal Blaine - Drummer for The Wrecking Crew born in 1929

Al Kooper born in 1944

Christopher Guest/Nigel Tufnel - Guitarist for Spinal Tap born in 1948

Duff McKagan - Bassist for Guns N’ Roses & Velvet Revolver born in 1964

06 Feb 2017


National Lame Duck Day

Quote:Even a lame-duck president can be affected by a clear midterm message if he wants to see his vice president elected and preserve his historical legacy.
– Noah Feldman

We’ve all heard someone referred to as a Lame Duck, but the original meaning of this phrase is often lost. Lame Duck is a term used to describe an elected official who is no longer responsible to his constituency, usually due to the fact that he’s on his way out of office and reelection is no longer a possibility.

History of Lame Duck Day

Lame Duck Day celebrates the ratification of the 20th amendment of the United States, an amendment added to shorten the time that the President, Senators, and Representatives spent in office after an election. During this time, especially if the representative was not reelected or is no longer eligible for reelection, they no longer have to concern themselves with the desires of their constituency. While this only happens during certain small sections of time, significant decisions have been made during this period. What kinds of things? Homeland Security is one of the biggest results of a lame duck congress meeting, but there have also been wars started and a president impeached, all under the auspices of a lame-duck session.

Where did the term come from? In the 1700’s a Lame-Duck was used to describe those stock brokers who had gauged their investments badly and could no longer pay off their debts. Later, it was extended to include unethical business-men who would find themselves bankrupted, and continue to do business anyway, even though they had no money to pay employees or suppliers. The term has now been extended to include the representatives listed above, and to describe those sessions where the people in session are no longer beholden to those people who elected them.



And



National Frozen Yogurt Day

Quote:“Frozen yogurt is tastier than ice cream,”
– Richelle E. Goodrich

You know what makes every day better? A big old scoop of ice cream, you know what’s even better than that? If you said Frogurt, you’re absolutely correct! Frozen Yogurt has all the benefits and diversity of ice cream, coming in a range of flavors just as incredible, but its far better for you! Frozen Yogurt Day lets you get your sweet tooth satisfied with cold creamy deliciousness, while helping to keep your heart and body healthy! What could be better?

History of Frozen Yogurt Day

Yogurt is a treat that has been with us since time out of mind, well over 4000 years in fact! It found its start in the Middle East and India, and was used extensively in just about every kind of meal you could imagine. But it wasn’t until the 1900’s that yogurt found its way to the Americas and increased in popularity so quickly and thoroughly that it’s no longer thought of as exotic. It wasn’t until the 1970’s, as Ice Cream was hitting an all time popularity, that some bright spark knew they could do better, and then they did.

Frozen Yogurt sales exploded after TCBY launched it’s first store in 1981, and by 1986 Frozen Yogurt sales reached $25 million dollars. By 1990, it was 10% of the frozen dessert market, and Frozen Yogurt was solidly here to stay. Frozen Yogurt Day reminds us to go out and enjoy this delicious alternative to Ice Cream, and to remember that sometimes the original isn’t the best, sometimes it’s all about innovation! So if you’re looking for a heart healthy dessert that has all the flavor and punch of ice cream, get out there and buy yourself some Frozen Yogurt!

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February 6 Birthdays


Bob Marley - (1945 - 1981) (36)



Babe Ruth - (1895 - 1948) (53)



Ronald Reagan - (1911 - 2004) (93)



Axl Rose - 55



Drita D'Avanzo - 41



Aaron Burr - (1756 - 1836) (80)



Natalie Cole - (1950 - 2015) (65)



Eva Braun - (1912 - 1945) (33)



Fabian - 74







February 6th

2001: The Eagles fired guitarist Don Felder. Felder shortly afterwards filed two lawsuits against the Eagles alleging wrongful termination & breach of contract. The lawsuits were dismissed in 2007 when an out of court settlement was reached.

2000: Bachman-Turner Overdrive made a guest appearance on The Simpsons as themselves performing at a state fair.

1990: Billy Idol was involved in a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles after he ran a stop sign. Idol suffered multiple broken bones & his major role in Oliver Stone’s film The Doors was reduced to a cameo.

1988: Bruce Springsteen peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Tunnel of Love” which was Springsteen’s eleventh top ten single in the U.S.

1987: Light of Day, starring Michael J. Fox & Joan Jett opened in North American theaters. Bruce Springsteen contributed the song “(Just Around the Corner to the) Light of Day” & a pre-Nine Inch Nails Trent Reznor had a brief appearance.

1982: The J. Geils Band reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart for the first and only time with “Centerfold” which spent six weeks at number one. They also went to number one on the Billboard 200 album chart for the first and only time with Freeze Frame which spent four weeks on top of the chart.

1980: Dream Police by Cheap Trick was certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of one million copies.

1968: The Beatles recorded “Lady Madonna” at EMI Studios in London. The song went on to reach number one in the U.K. & number four in the U.S.

1965: The Kinks peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “All Day and All of the Night” which was their second top ten single in the U.S.



Birthdays:

Axl Rose - Singer for Guns N’ Roses born in 1962

07 Feb 2017


Wave All Your Fingers At Your Neighbors Day



At first glance, Wave All Your Fingers At Your Neighbors Day might appear to be an incitement to approach people that live in your vicinity and, literally, wave your fingers in their faces in an annoying and potentially dangerous manner. Do not be tempted to do this, however, as this is not, apparently, the aim.

It’s more about building bridges than destroying them. Instead of greeting your neighbors with a cursory nod as you usually do, on this particular day you should give them a cheery wave. Not just any old cheery wave though; a wave that involves all your fingers.

Pianists have an unfair advantage because they have undergone special training. Anyone can do it though. So come on, try it now. Pretend you’re playing the piano, but the keyboard is tipped towards you at 90 degrees and is somewhere to the right of your head. Raise your right hand, and play something tinkly.

You’ve got it!



And



Send a Card to a Friend Day



We all have different types of friends. Some are like family and some are more aptly described as acquaintances. No matter how we describe them, they each play a role in our lives. We can recall with clear vision our good and bad moments with each of them. Today is Send a Card to A Friend Day. It’s your chance to tell them exactly what they mean to you and why. This is not about a phone call or an email.

This is a day to send a card… in the mail!

Yes, there still is a person who delivers physical letters and cards! They come down your block every day…check it out!

History of Send a Card to a Friend Day

Since our days have become filled with every kind of electronic communication that you could dream of, the art of penmanship and letter writing has begun to fade into a memory. Don’t think so? Ask a school aged child if they had penmanship today and see how hard they laugh at you! It just doesn’t exist anymore. This sad state of affairs raises the delight that one feels when having the fortune to be the recipient of an honest to goodness paper card! No pixels here, just your heartfelt thoughts put down on paper. There was a time when men and women wrote daily notes to their friends. There were thank you notes, party invitations, love notes and of course the gossip filled notes catching up on the previous evenings antics! Now we have a minute to minute digital journal on social media!

So Send a Card to a Friend Day is all about stepping away from the devices and show someone how much they mean to you.

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February 7 Birthdays



Chris Rock - 52



Ashton Kutcher - 39



Garth Brooks - 55



Laura Ingalls Wilder - (1867 - 1957) (90)



Charles Dickens - (1812 - 1870) (58)



James Spader - 57



John Deere - (1804 - 1886) (82)






February 7th

2001: U2 performed a secret show at London’s Astoria. Among those in attendance included Mick Jagger, Bob Geldof & Queen drummer Roger Taylor.

2000: Foghat singer & guitarist Dave Peverett died at a hospital in Orlando of complications from kidney cancer. He was 56 years old.

1993: Neil Young taped his appearance on MTV Unplugged at Universal Studios in Los Angeles. Young was reportedly unhappy with the performances of almost everyone in his band. The performance that later aired & was released on CD the following June was their second attempt at recording a set suitable for airing and release.

1989: Georgia State Legislator Billy Randall introduced a bill to make “Tutti Frutti” by Little Richard Georgia’s official rock song. The bill didn’t pass.

1986: The Rolling Stones filmed their music video for their cover of Bob & Earl’s “Harlem Shuffle” in New York City.

1980: Pink Floyd began a seven night stand at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena where they performed The Wall in its entirety. The Wall was also performed in its entirety in Uniondale, NY, London & Dortmund, Germany.

1979: Stephen Stills became the first rock performer to record on digital equipment at the Record Plant studio in Los Angeles. These recordings were later scrapped & remain unreleased to this day.

1976: Bob Dylan reached number one on the Billboard 200 Album Chart for the second time with Desire which spent five weeks on top.

1969: The Who recorded “Pinball Wizard” at Morgan Studios in London. The song was originally written as an afterthought, but went on the become to most popular song from Tommy & remains in The Who’s live set to this day.




Birthdays:

David Bryan - Keyboardist for Bon Jovi born in 1962

08 Feb 2017


Laugh And Get Rich Day



Oh good, you’re laughing already!

I know you think that it is a silly excuse to have a holiday but think about it! Laughing helps in everything. It even helps in tediously dry and boring moments. Don’t tell me you haven’t had the rogue giggle attack in a moment of seriousness! Have you ever had to excuse yourself just to leave the room before that giggle attack takes over? Heaven help you if your friend is in the room. You do know that a friend in close proximity increases the potency of those giggles, right?

History of Laugh and Get Rich Day

The creation of Laugh and Get Rich Day had only your best interest at heart. The day is about encouraging laughter so that the effects can be felt across all areas of life. Science has proven that laughter actually can be medicine. Those who are in pain or suffering from chronic illness can increase the production of endorphins. When the body releases endorphins the result is a lift in mood and a decrease in pain. This is the basis for what might be accomplished on Laugh and Get Rich Day.



And



National Kite Flying Day



When you hear about flying kites, do you automatically hear the Mary Poppins song in your head? If you don’t then you obviously haven’t had the pleasure of enjoying that lovely movie! Take the time to watch it and you won’t be disappointed. But we were talking about Kite Flying Day! Yes, it is a holiday I promise! So, get down into your basement and dig out that kite you have not looked at in years. It’s time to get out into the fresh air!

History of Kite Flying Day

Kites have been bringing joy and relaxation since the 5th century in China. Kites are made of different parts that when working together allow for the high-flying tricks that we all love to watch. Those parts are the wings, tethers and anchors. The kite is designated as a heavier-than-air craft that is tethered with wing surfaces that react as the air drags and lifts around them. Kite Flying Day was created to remind us of the feeling of freedom that one feels when guiding a kite through the currents of air.

Do you recall those days back in school when you were little and it was the day to make kites? Brightly colored paper sprinkled with glitter and ribbons were the typical creation. Were you able to get yours to take flight? I recall the sounds of giggles and encouraging yells as one friend would run and run hoping the kite would spring from their hands and into the air. Were you the one who held the string? Were you able to make the kite rise and fall and dip and spin?

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February 8 Birthdays


James Dean - (1931 - 1955) (24)



Seth Green - 43



Kimbo Slice - (1974 - 2016) (42)



Gary Coleman - (1968 - 2010) (42)



Vince Neil - 56



Lana Turner - (1921 - 1995) (74)



Nick Nolte - 76



Jack Lemmon - (1925 - 2001) (76)





February 8th

2005: Keith Knudsen, drummer for The Doobie Brothers died of chronic pneumonia in Kentfield, CA. He was 56 years old.

2004: The Philadelphia Soul, the Arena Football League team co-owned by Jon Bon Jovi played their first game where they lost to the New Orleans VooDoo.

1990: Del Shannon died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at his home in Santa Clarita, CA. He was 55 years old.

1981: R.E.M. made their first recording sessions at Bombay Studios in Smyrna, GA. Some of the songs recorded included their debut single “Radio Free Europe” which was released the following July on local Hib-Tone Records, which pressed 1,000 copies.

1980: David Bowie & his wife Angie divorced after being married for nearly a decade. David would receive custody of his son Zowie.

1975: Queen released “Killer Queen” which went on to become their first hit single in the U.S., later peaking at number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

1971: Bob Dylan’s documentary of his 1966 tour of the U.K. Eat the Document premiered at New York City’s Academy of Music. The film would only receive two other commercial showings.

1971: Frank Zappa was forced to cancel a concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall after venue officials deemed Zappa’s classical opus 200 Motels to be obscene & refuse to allow its performance.

1969: Ginger Baker & Eric Clapton of Cream announced that they have formed Blind Faith with Steve Winwood.



Birthdays:

Vince Neil - Singer for Motley Crue born in 1961

09 Feb 2017


Read In The Bathtub Day



When you think about reading in the bathtub, does it bring back memories of childhood soaks with your favorite comic books? Perhaps you think about the scolding by the Librarian when you tried to return the book that got away – and took a plunge into the bathwater? It’s time to make new memories on Read in the Bathtub Day! Grab your favorite book or device (I admit I read my digital books in the bath – carefully of course!) and get ready for a relaxing soak.

History of Read in the Bathtub Day

It is easy to imagine the first person to read in the bathtub to be some noble reading off scrolls in a tiny tub as they tried to figure out how to rule their realm. Possible, but perhaps that joy came later when tubs, indoor plumbing, and lighting made the task a joy rather than a chore? It is not difficult to image that as books and comfort became handier, that this pastime became a favorite from the top of society to the bottom!



And



Safer Internet Day

Quote:The internet has been a boon and a curse for teenagers.
– J. K. Rowling

The Internet has been an amazing invention that has undoubtedly change the world in more ways than we can think of. Not all of those ways, unfortunately, have been positive. We can connect to people faster, find things easier, and transfer information at the speed of light. These very boons of communication can become the bane of safety. So much of our private lives and information get transferred over the internet, Safer Internet Day reminds us to protect ourselves from the dangers there and make the internet a little safer for everyone.

History of Safer Internet Day

Safer Internet Day came to exist officially in 2012, when the US Department of Homeland Security and the European Commission decided it was time to help shepherd the growing beast that was the Internet into a playground that was safer for our youth. In America things got really going in 2013 when ConnectSafely.org was appointed to coordinate the efforts in the American theater, and they’ve been driving it forward a little more every year. Each year they choose a theme to help promote, and a goal that they intend to reach. What kinds of goals?

In 2015 they began to promote that year’s theme “Actions & Activism Toward a Better Net & World”, where they focused on concerns like bullying and integration with the National Parent Teacher Association, and working to use technology to help effect social change. This is a particularly powerful use of the tool, given that people from every walk of life and culture from around the world can connect and communicate in ways they never could before. That’s what the Internet was for, what it brought to us, and the world it helped bring together.

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February 9 Birthdays



Joe Pesci - 74



Carole King - 75



William Henry Harrison - (1773 - 1841) (68)



Travis Tritt - 54



Mia Farrow - 71



Carmen Miranda - (1909 - 1955) (46)






February 9th

2005: Who singer Roger Daltrey was made a Commander of the Order of British Empire at Buckingham Palace. Daltrey received the honor for his career in music & for his charitable work.

1993: Mick Jagger released his third solo album Wandering Spirit & Paul McCartney released his eighth solo album Off the Ground.

1986: The Colombian Volcano Appeal benefit concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall for the November 1985 Nevada del Ruiz volcanic eruption in Colombia. The performers included David Gilmour, Chrissie Hynde, Pete Townshend & Annie Lennox.

1985: Don Henley peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “The Boys of Summer” which was his second top ten single as a solo artist in the U.S.

1981: Bill Haley died in his home in Harlingen, TX of a heart attack. He was 55 years old.

1974: Iggy Pop & the Stooges performed their final concert at the Michigan Palace in Detroit. Pop taunted & verbally abused the audience throughout the concert & had pieces of ice, eggs, & beer bottles thrown at him. The Stooges later reunited in 2003.

1972: Paul McCartney made his live debut with Wings with a surprise concert at Nottingham University in the U.K.

1967: The Beatles recorded “Fixing a Hole” at Regent Sound Studio in London. This was the first time that The Beatles didn’t record at EMI Studios in London.

1964: The Beatles made their American live debut on The Ed Sullivan Show & performed a five song set including the number one single that week “I Want to Hold Your Hand”. The show had received more than 50,000 applications for the 728 seats in the studio.



Birthdays:

Rachel Bolan - Bassist for Skid Row born in 1966

10 Feb 2017


National Cream Cheese Brownie Day



Wow! Cream cheese brownie day? Have we all died and gone to heaven? I am not going to complain at having a justifiable reason to indulge… are you?

Let’s face it when you think of cheesecake you think of that creamy colored, tangy bite of feathery goodness with a graham cracker crust. How on earth could you pair that with the fudgy, gooey sweetness of a brownie without creating a culinary war on your taste buds? Quite easily in fact, and I thank that wonderful person who was the first to think of it – they are my hero!

History of Cream Cheese Brownie Day

If you want to understand Cream Cheese Brownie Day, then you must understand the pieces that go into making it – cream cheese and brownies!

Cream cheese, or forms of it, have been found in culinary records in Europe for hundreds of years. It is mentioned in England as early as 1583! In France, the earliest records show up about 1651. So clearly in Europe, they have a head start on enjoying that morning cream cheese fix because the first appearance of what we recognize today as cream cheese didn’t hit the market until 1873 when it was first mass produced.

Thank you, William A. Lawrence! He was the Chester, New York, dairyman who took this yummy cheese from the farms to our tabletops – and eventually into our brownies!

Speaking of brownies – the fudgy, decadent and sinful vice that most of us can claim as our own shows up in American culinary records in 1906. Although something called “brownies” had been around through most of the 1800s, what we think of brownies first appeared in a cookbook published by the Boston Cooking School. This recipe is not quite the gooey goodness we love, but it started the passion!



And



National Umbrella Day

Quote:”I didn’t invent the rainy day. I just own the best umbrella.”
Jimmy Fallon

Everyone is familiar with the site of an umbrella, they’re present whether you live in the hottest of climates or the coldest. They’re there to keep the rain off on a blustery day, and there to protect you from sunburn on a warm and sunny one, there’s simply no day that isn’t a perfect Umbrella Day! So of course there’s a holiday to honor this ever useful, ever fashionable and essential piece of travel gear.

History of Umbrella Day

Umbrella Day celebrates this useful device that has been with us for quite a long time, and has served every purpose from practical to fanciful since its creation. Just how long has the umbrella been with us? Long enough that it’s permeated every culture across the globe, and originated from more than one. The oldest recorded umbrella appeared in 21 AD, in Ancient China. Though to be fair, this really was just the first recorded collapsible umbrella, Qin Shihuang’s tomb revealed a terracotta army carriage that had a permanently open umbrella attached to it dating from 210 BC. They were also found in Nineveh, Persepolis, Ancient Egypt, and Greece, just to name a few. Needless to say the umbrella has a long and noble history.

The popularity of the umbrella extended beyond its usefulness for protecting us from sun and rain, special efforts were made to turn these simple devices into exquisite works of art, some of them even being made of lace or lavishly decorated paper, and were carried by the most influential and beautiful people in the world. Today has revealed even more styles that are available in the world, including an innovation on the already innovative collapsible umbrella. Now they have telescoping ones that don’t just collapse the shade, but then collapse the handle so it can fit in your purse or car door!

Isn’t that amazing?

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February 10 Birthdays



Cliff Burton - (1962 - 1986) (24)



Emma Roberts - 26



Elizabeth Banks - 43





February 10th

1999: Iron Maiden announced that singer Bruce Dickinson & guitarist Adrian Smith would be rejoining the band for a reunion tour & a new album. Both Dickinson & Smith are still in Iron Maiden to this day.

1998: Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose was arrested for allegedly threatening to punch out a security guard who was searching his luggage at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Rose was charged with disorderly conduct.

1995: Seventeen years after its initial release, Heaven Tonight by Cheap Trick was certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of one million copies.

1990: Aerosmith peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Janie’s Got a Gun” which was their fifth top ten single in the U.S.

1990: Eric Clapton performed the final night of his record setting 18 nights at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

1979: Dire Straits released their debut single “Sultans of Swing” in the U.S., which went on to reach number four on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

1978: Van Halen released their self-titled debut album. It peaked at number nineteen on the Billboard 200 album chart & went on to sell ten million copies in the U.S. alone.

1975: Dave Alexander, bassist for The Stooges died of pulmonary edema at a hospital in Ann Arbor, MI. He was 27 years old.

1970: ZZ Top performed their first concert in Beaumont, TX.
(my hometown and I was there )



Birthdays:

Cliff Burton - Bassist for Metallica born in 1962

11 Feb 2017


National Make a Friend Day



Some say that the measure of our lives can be seen in our friends. We have all sorts of friends, best ones, long distance ones and even ones that we call acquaintances. They help us through the bad times and dance along in the good times with us. There are friends who are the family that we choose and we would lay down our lives for. These are the bindings on our hearts that we would never want to get rid of. On Make a Friend Day, we can take the time to perhaps add another to this list of buddies!

History of Make a Friend Day

Friendship is as old as mankind. We have any chances through the year to show those we care for how much they mean to us. There are countless times through the year that we can surround ourselves with all our friends and enjoy their company. Make a Friend Day encourages us to move beyond those set groups and meet new people. Make a connection with someone new who can bring new experiences and fun into your life! On Make a Friend Day you need to reach out and take a chance on your fellow man. I know that the thought of moving out of your comfort zone and trying to make a connection with someone new. The fear of rejection is alive and well in most of us. To battle that fear, look around and see all the great people in your life and have faith that moving forward more great people will be attracted into your environment!



And




Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day



Yes, Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day is real! This can cover a plethora of situations in life that just need a day to remind us to take a moment and just breathe. Breathe deeply and let all of the outside influences fall away for a few seconds. Reconnect with your inner peace, with your spiritual bearings and with the power of you. Sound too easy to be helpful? You’ll find that if you finish reading this and try some of the things suggested you really will feel better.

History of Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day

It may not be clear when or how this day came to be set aside as a reminder not to sweat the small stuff, I think it is worth mentioning why such a day is needed. Have you ever had that moment when a very small, inconsequential things just sent you over the edge? Find yourself dissolving into a puddle or tears or ranting in a rage that really doesn’t make sense? These are signs that you need this holiday.

In today’s world, we have so many things that demand attention that weren’t there in generations past. We have phones, computers, jobs, kids and all that go with them that take up more minutes than there are available in the day. In the fast-paced world that we live in, sometimes it seems that if we take a minute to ourselves that we are not doing what needs to be done. It is, in fact, the opposite of the truth. The more hectic and crazy our lives get the more we need to slow down and smell the roses along the way.

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February 11 Birthdays



Gene Vincent - (1935 - 1971) (36)



Jennifer Aniston - 48



Thomas Edison - (1847 - 1931) (84)



Burt Reynolds - 81



Sarah Palin - 53



Sheryl Crow - 55



Tina Louise - 83



Leslie Nielsen - (1926 - 2010) (84)







February 11th

1998: Bernie Taupin’s hand-written lyrics for Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind ‘97” sold for $442,500 at Christie’s in Los Angeles. The proceeds benefitted the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.

1992: Motley Crue fired singer Vince Neil, claiming Neil didn’t have a passion for music. Neil claimed he was fired for taking a stand against the group’s new musical direction. Neil later re-joined Motley Crue in 1997.

1985: The Firm, a band which featured Free & Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers & Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page released their self-titled debut album. The album was recorded at Page’s Sol Studios & went on to be certified Gold in the U.S.

1984: Genesis peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “That’s All” which was their first top ten single in the U.S.

1983: The Rolling Stones’ concert film documentary Let’s Spend The Night Together, which was a film on their 1981 North American tour in support of Tattoo You premiered in New York City.

1982: U2 kicked off their fourth North American tour aboard the SS President Riverboat as it floated along the Mississippi River in New Orleans.

1972: David Bowie performed as Ziggy Stardust in concert for the first time in Tollworth, U.K.

1965: Ringo Starr married longtime girlfriend Maureen Cox at Caxton Hall Register Office in London. Manager Brian Epstein was the best man. Starr’s bandmates in The Beatles were in attendance with the exception of Paul McCartney who was on vacation.

1964: The Beatles performed their first concert in the U.S. at the Washington Coliseum in Washington, D.C.

1963: The Beatles recorded ten of the fourteen songs which appeared on their debut album Please Please Me at EMI Studios in London.




Birthdays:

Gene Vincent born in 1935

12 Feb 2017


World Marriage Day



Marriage is a hugely important institution in many parts of the world, and symbolises the formalisation of a relationship between a loving couple. Marriage Day celebrates everything about marriage, and is a great day to propose to your partner, or to get hitched!



And




Lost Penny Day



When you think about it, pennies are a real nuisance. They’re small and seemingly almost worthless, and despite putting them safely in your wallet or purse, they always seem to wind up blocking the filter on your washing machine, slipping down the sides of the cushions on your favourite armchair, or getting sucked up the vacuum cleaner. Nevertheless, on one special day each year we can take the time to gather up those ever-wandering coins and finally do something more useful with them that we usually do by donating them to a charity of our choice. Lost Penny Day is the perfect day to take a moment to recognize that despite the fact that pennies may not seem like they are worth much, they can still be found and used to help those in need to whom each and every penny counts and adds up.

The History of Lost Penny Day

The first penny ever was designed by Benjamin Franklin and minted in 1787. The penny we’re familiar with today, however, adorned with the bust of late American president Abraham Lincoln, was first minted in 1909 and released on February 12th to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth. The founder of Lost Penny Day, Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith, wrote a log post about her idea, explaining that what she was trying to demonstrate was: “Petty change can make an astounding difference”, which is a positive message indeed, and one we can suspect Honest Abe himself would have supported. In fact, one of Lincoln’s most well-known quotes was, “I walk slowly, but I never walk backward”.



And



Darwin Day

Quote:We must, however, acknowledge, as it seems to me, that man with all his noble qualities… still bears in his bodily frame the indelible stamp of his lowly origin.
– Charles Darwin

There was a pivotal moment in history when we began to look at ourselves, and at life, in a new way. It changed not just how we perceived ourselves, but how we were related to all the other life and species on Earth. We came to realize, along the way, that we were kin, however distant, of every lifeform on Earth, and that moment was both aggrandizing and humbling, all at once. That moment was when Charles Darwin brought the idea of Law of Natural Selection into the limelight of the scientific world, and we began to see with clear eyes how everything, absolutely everything, was connected.

History of Darwin Day

Darwin was absolutely fundamental to the understanding of life and the species of the world as we know it today. Charles Robert Darwin was born in 1809, and grew to become a naturalist and geologist who would come to change the world. He was fascinated by the number and variety of fossils from around the world, and the species in their great diversity, and so set out on a five-year voyage on the Beagle to sail around the world to study life in all its forms.

While his theories were originally rejected by the science of his day, it came to be seen as incontrovertible fact as more and more data was collected and more species were discovered. DNA research pushed it even further, as we started to see the connections between species in the very genes that composed them. It was impossible not to see that some species originated from other species, and that even man itself had a shared ancestor with the primates. Science would never be the same.

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February 12 Birthdays



Abraham Lincoln - (1809 - 1865) (56)



Charles Darwin - (1809 -1882) (73)



Bill Russell - 83



Josh Brolin - 49



Arsenio Hall - 61



Anna Pavlova - (1881 - 1931) (49)






February 12th

2007: The Police held a press conference at the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood to announce their reunion tour. The group also held a public rehearsal.

1994: Alice in Chains made history as their EP Jar of Flies became the first EP to reach number one on the Billboard 200 Album Chart.

1981: Rush released Moving Pictures which went on to become their most commercially successful album in the U.S. The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 Album Chart the following month & sold over four million copies in the U.S. alone.

1977: The Police recorded their first single “Fall Out” & b-side “Nothing Achieving” at Pathway Studios in London. The cost to record both sides was approximately $250.

1972: Yes released the single “Roundabout” which went on to become their second top 40 single in the U.S., peaking at number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart & remains a staple on classic rock radio to this day.

1970: John Lennon performed “Instant Karma!” on a pre-taped appearance on the U.K.’s Top of the Pops, which made Lennon the first Beatle to appear on the show since 1966.

1968: Jimi Hendrix made his live debut in his birthplace of Seattle at the Seattle Arena. Hendrix also received the key to the city & received an honorary diploma from Garfield High School, where he dropped out at 16 years old.

1967: Keith Richards’ home “Redlands” in Sussex, U.K. was raided by 15 police officers with a warrant under the Dangerous Drugs Act. Charges were made against Richards & Mick Jagger.

1966: The Who peaked at number seventy-four on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “My Generation” which was their second single to chart in the U.S. The song reached number two on the U.K. Singles Chart the previous November.



Birthdays:

Ray Manzarek - Keyboardist for The Doors born in 1939

Stanley Knight - Guitarist for Black Oak Arkansas born in 1949

Steve Hackett - Guitarist for Genesis born in 1950

Gil Moore - Drummer for Triumph born in 1951

Michael McDonald - Singer for The Doobie Brothers born in 1952