Today is...

[IceWizard]

Thank you Max ...

That only adds to the gravity of the whole day.... We should all take the time today to remember that, by wanting "exclusion' from the 2nd World War, we paid a dear price ....

Ice

[Charon]

well said.

[IceWizard]

Thusday 8 Dec 2016



Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day



Being able to travel through time to a different age or era is the dream of many scientists, sci-fi enthusiasts, and even historians. After all, we spend so much of our lives hearing about what happened in the past, be it one hundred, one thousand, or one million years ago, that many of us would give anything to see the things that were happening then with our own eyes.

But have you ever thought that one day there will be people who will look back and wish they could travel to our times? Or how many people there were living in the 18th century that would have loved to see what life would look like in 2015?

If you’ve never thought about it that way, it’s time you did, as that attitude will allow you to see the world in a whole new light and enjoy Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day to the fullest.

The History of Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day

Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day was created in 2007 by the Koala Wallop online community, but the dream of the human race one day being able to travel through time is much older than that.

The first known mention of such a concept is in ancient Hindu mythology. In one of the stories, the King Revaita travels far away to met the creator, Brahma. Upon his return to his kingdom, he is shocked to find that many ages have passed during his relatively short absence.

Time travel has also been brought up in the Talmud and early Japanese tales.

A bit more recently, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” tells us about how the main character, Ebeneezer Scrooge, is is transported back and forth through time to witness various events, leading to his eventual change of heart towards mankind.

And even more recently, the cult classic Back to the Future Trilogy depicts the adventures of American teen Marty McFly, as he travels both into the future and the past to right wrongs.

As you can see, time travel has fascinated mankind for millennia.



And



Brownie Day



Brownies, that rich, decadent, purely hedonistic blend of cake and cookie that feels amazing in your mouth and leaves you craving more.

There’s a million different derivations of how to make these delicious treats, but there’s one thing they all have in common. Levels of chocolate so thick and rich they should be illegal. So popular are they that you can find them served as the foundation for sundaes, they can be found in milkshakes, and there’s even been breakfast cereal based on them.

Brownie Day is your chance to get in and indulge in all that decadent goodness you’ve avoided the rest of the year, or at least an opportunity to go into some serious brownie overload.

History of Brownie Day

The first brownies ever made set the bar for the hedonistic indulgence that was to follow, created for a fair luncheon in the late 1800’s, the first variety of these was found bedecked in an apricot glaze and inundated with delicious walnuts.

To this day the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago serves the same recipe as that served to these ladies well over a hundred years ago.

Brownie Day was established by the millions of fans of this chocolatey-cakey treat, and the recipes that have cropped up over the years have been legion. From Chocolate Mint brownies to those made with rich swirls of caramel, the variations of brownie are limited only by the extent of your imagination.

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December 8 Birthdays


Gregg Allman - 69



Phil Collen - 59



Nicki Minaj - 34



Jim Morrison - (1943-1971)



Mary Queen of Scots - (1542-1587)



Sammy Davis Jr. - (1925-1990)



Kim Basinger - 63



Teri Hatcher - 52



Sinead O'Connor - 50








December 8th

2003: Ozzy Osbourne was rushed into emergency surgery at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, U.K. Osbourne broke his collarbone and several ribs after he crashed an ATV on the grounds of his Buckinghamshire estate.

2000: Sting received a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Hollywood Mayor Johnny Grant declared the day Sting Day in Hollywood.

1984: Motley Crue singer Vince Neil was involved in a car crash which killed passenger Nick Dingley, drummer of Hanoi Rocks and injured two others. Neil would spend 20 days in jail and pay $2.6 million in compensation.

1984: Bryan Adams made his second appearance on American Bandstand where he performed “Run to You” and “Kids Wanna Rock”.

1983: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Ron Wood, Joe Cocker, Jimmy Page and Paul Rodgers were among the participants at the Ronnie Lane ARMS Appeal concert at Madison Square Garden.

1980: John Lennon was murdered outside of the Dakota building in New York City where he was living. Mark David Chapman murdered Lennon as Lennon was signing an autograph for Chapman. Lennon was 40 years old.

1979: The Police reached number one on the U.K. Singles Chart for the second time with “Walking on the Moon” which spent one week on top of the chart.

1975: Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue tour ended its first leg at Madison Square Garden with “Night of the Hurricane”, a benefit for boxer and convicted murderer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. The concert raised over $100,000.

1969: Jimi Hendrix was found not guilty in the Toronto Supreme Court on charges of drug possession. Hendrix told the judge he had “outgrown” drugs.

1961: The Beach Boys released their debut single “Surfin’” on Candix Records. The song would later peak at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.



Birthdays:

Bobby Elliott - Drummer for The Hollies born in 1942

Jim Morrison - Singer for The Doors born in 1943

Gregg Allman - Singer and organist for The Allman Brothers Band born in 1947

Phil Collen - Guitarist for Def Leppard born in 1957

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December 8 Birthdays

img]http://jambands.com/images/2014/05/07/50714/allman_g-600x340.jpg[/img]
Gregg Allman - 69


img]http://eddietrunk.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/PhilCollenheadshot400.jpg[/img]
Phil Collen - 59


img]http://famousbirthdays.com/thumbnails/minaj-nicki-large.jpg[/img]
Nicki Minaj - 34


img]http://famousbirthdays.com/thumbnails/morrison-jim-large.jpg[/img]
Jim Morrison - (1943-1971)


img]http://famousbirthdays.com/thumbnails/queen-mary-large.jpg[/img]
Mary Queen of Scots - (1542-1587)


img]http://famousbirthdays.com/thumbnails/davis-sammy-large.jpg[/img]
Sammy Davis Jr. - (1925-1990)


img]http://famousbirthdays.com/thumbnails/basinger-kim-large.jpg[/img]
Kim Basinger - 63


img]http://famousbirthdays.com/thumbnails/hatcher-teri-large.jpg[/img]
Teri Hatcher - 52


img]http://famousbirthdays.com/thumbnails/oconnor-sinead-large.jpg[/img]
Sinead O'Connor - 50






img]http://paulshaffersdayinrock.com/images/titles2/NEWthisdayinrockhistory.gif[/img]

December 8th

2003: Ozzy Osbourne was rushed into emergency surgery at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, U.K. Osbourne broke his collarbone and several ribs after he crashed an ATV on the grounds of his Buckinghamshire estate.

2000: Sting received a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Hollywood Mayor Johnny Grant declared the day Sting Day in Hollywood.

1984: Motley Crue singer Vince Neil was involved in a car crash which killed passenger Nick Dingley, drummer of Hanoi Rocks and injured two others. Neil would spend 20 days in jail and pay $2.6 million in compensation.

1984: Bryan Adams made his second appearance on American Bandstand where he performed “Run to You” and “Kids Wanna Rock”.

1983: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Ron Wood, Joe Cocker, Jimmy Page and Paul Rodgers were among the participants at the Ronnie Lane ARMS Appeal concert at Madison Square Garden.

1980: John Lennon was murdered outside of the Dakota building in New York City where he was living. Mark David Chapman murdered Lennon as Lennon was signing an autograph for Chapman. Lennon was 40 years old.

1979: The Police reached number one on the U.K. Singles Chart for the second time with “Walking on the Moon” which spent one week on top of the chart.

1975: Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue tour ended its first leg at Madison Square Garden with “Night of the Hurricane”, a benefit for boxer and convicted murderer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. The concert raised over $100,000.

1969: Jimi Hendrix was found not guilty in the Toronto Supreme Court on charges of drug possession. Hendrix told the judge he had “outgrown” drugs.

1961: The Beach Boys released their debut single “Surfin’” on Candix Records. The song would later peak at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.



Birthdays:

Bobby Elliott - Drummer for The Hollies born in 1942

Jim Morrison - Singer for The Doors born in 1943

Gregg Allman - Singer and organist for The Allman Brothers Band born in 1947

Phil Collen - Guitarist for Def Leppard born in 1957

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December 8 Birthdays

img]http://jambands.com/images/2014/05/07/50714/allman_g-600x340.jpg[/img]
Gregg Allman - 69


img]http://eddietrunk.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/PhilCollenheadshot400.jpg[/img]
Phil Collen - 59


img]http://famousbirthdays.com/thumbnails/minaj-nicki-large.jpg[/img]
Nicki Minaj - 34


img]http://famousbirthdays.com/thumbnails/morrison-jim-large.jpg[/img]
Jim Morrison - (1943-1971)


img]http://famousbirthdays.com/thumbnails/queen-mary-large.jpg[/img]
Mary Queen of Scots - (1542-1587)


img]http://famousbirthdays.com/thumbnails/davis-sammy-large.jpg[/img]
Sammy Davis Jr. - (1925-1990)


img]http://famousbirthdays.com/thumbnails/basinger-kim-large.jpg[/img]
Kim Basinger - 63


img]http://famousbirthdays.com/thumbnails/hatcher-teri-large.jpg[/img]
Teri Hatcher - 52


img]http://famousbirthdays.com/thumbnails/oconnor-sinead-large.jpg[/img]
Sinead O'Connor - 50






img]http://paulshaffersdayinrock.com/images/titles2/NEWthisdayinrockhistory.gif[/img]

December 8th

2003: Ozzy Osbourne was rushed into emergency surgery at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, U.K. Osbourne broke his collarbone and several ribs after he crashed an ATV on the grounds of his Buckinghamshire estate.

2000: Sting received a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Hollywood Mayor Johnny Grant declared the day Sting Day in Hollywood.

1984: Motley Crue singer Vince Neil was involved in a car crash which killed passenger Nick Dingley, drummer of Hanoi Rocks and injured two others. Neil would spend 20 days in jail and pay $2.6 million in compensation.

1984: Bryan Adams made his second appearance on American Bandstand where he performed “Run to You” and “Kids Wanna Rock”.

1983: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Ron Wood, J

[IceWizard]

Friday 9 Dec 2016

International Day of Veterinary Medicine

Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened. – Anatole France

We all have them in our lives, those friends that are loyal to the end, that want nothing from us but love and the occasional meal. We are, of course, talking about our animal friends, the scaly fish that swim in the tank, the purring fur-ball that awaits us at the door each day and does everything in its power to prevent us from getting anything productive done, and the wagging tail waiting to join us on the morning jog.

What would our lives be without pets in them? A lot less.

International Day of Veterinary Medicine dedicates itself to recognizing the field of medicine that keeps our friends alive, and the people who practice it.

History of International Day of Veterinary Medicine

The International Day of Veterinary Medicine lauds those companies and organizations like the American Veterinary Medicine Association that work every year not just to promote the development of veterinary medicine, but to ensure that information is made available to pet owners like you that will enable you to make the best choices for them.

Whether that’s a notice about the contents of a new dog food (that sometimes leads to them getting recalled, like Cesar Classics Filet Mignon Flavor Wet Food in October of 2016) or a new medicine that you may want to ask your veterinarian about for rovers, these organizations are on the cutting edge of Veterinary Medicine. International Day of Veterinary Medicine also celebrates those intrepid souls who work hard to keep our animals safe, and are constantly going through ongoing education to stay at the very front of the medicine that will keep our pets alive and healthy for years to come.

A special shout- out goes to those who practice exotic animal medicine, learning about critters that are rarely kept as pets.



And



International Anti-Corruption Day



Corruption could be one of the biggest tragedies of mankind for the simple reason that it is ongoing and extremely difficult to combat, forcing the poor into ever more hopeless conditions while the select few in power get ever richer and more powerful.

Bribes prevent chosen criminals from ever having to take responsibility for what they’ve done, politicians employ all of their cronies as as soon as the get into office, police officers cooperate with drug dealers, and anyone who dares object is either blackmailed into silence or “mysteriously” disappears.

As of 2014, some of the most corrupted countries in the world are Haiti, Iraq, North Korea, Venezuela, Somalia and Afghanistan.

The History of International Anti-Corruption Day

International Anti-corruption Day was launched on October 9th 2003 by the General Assembly of the United Nations as a way of raising awareness of corruption and highlighting the role of the United Nations Convention against Corruption in combating and preventing it.

The official reason given by the UN for creating this day is that it was “concerned about the seriousness of problems and threats posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardizing sustainable development and the rule of law”.

Since the day was first held, the day’s organisers, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, say intolerance towards corruption has grown. This is evidenced by the increasing number of politicians and chief executives who are being tried and convicted for the crime.

[IceWizard]

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December 9 Birthdays


Dennis Dunaway - 59



Kurt Angle - 48



Dick Butkus - 74



Kirk Douglas - 100



Redd Foxx - (1922-1991)



Donny Osmond - 59



Felicity Huffman - 54



John Malkovich - 63



Margaret Hamilton - (1902-1985)








December 9th

2006: U2 ended their year and a half tour in support of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, HI. Pearl Jam opened the concert and during U2’s set, there were guest appearances from Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong and Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready.

2000: U2 made their first appearance on Saturday Night Live where they performed “Beautiful Day” and “Elevation”.

1991: Guns N’ Roses made their debut at Madison Square Garden in the first of a three night stand. All three concerts were sold out, drawing over 54,000 fans and grossing over $1.3 million.

1974: George Harrison released his third album as a solo artist Dark Horse which would also be the name of Harrison’s record label.

1974: John Lennon stopped by the announcer’s booth on Monday Night Football. While in the booth, Ronald Reagan explained the rules of football to Lennon.

1972: The Moody Blues reached the top of the Billboard 200 Album Chart for the first time with Seventh Sojourn which spent five weeks at number one.

1972: The stage version of Tommy opened at London’s Rainbow Theatre. There were contributions from Roger Daltrey, Richie Havens and Steve Winwood, while Pete Townshend narrated the performance.

1967: Jim Morrison was arrested during a Doors concert in New Haven, CT for disturbing the peace after he complained about his treatment by the New Haven police department onstage.

1966: Cream released their debut album Fresh Cream which would go on to be certified Gold two years later.



Birthdays:

Dennis Dunaway - Bassist for Alice Cooper born in 1946

[IceWizard]

Saturday 10 Dec 2016

World Human Rights Day



Every so often a thing comes to pass that is of such astounding importance that we must stand up and recognize it. We must place this thing on the pedestal it deserves, and ensure that the precepts and policies put in place by it are adhered to, appreciated, and spread as far as the human voice will carry. Such is the sort of message sent by Human Rights Day.

History of Human Rights Day

Human Rights Day was established in 1948, and ever since that auspicious day it has stood as the first major stride forward in ensuring that the rights of every human across the globe are protected.

From the most basic human needs such as food, shelter, and water, all the way up to access to free and uncensored information, such has been the goals and ambitions laid out that day.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was a shout across the world by the leading countries in the world, stating loud and clear that no matter where we live, what we believe, or how we love, we are each individually deserving of the most basic fundaments of human needs.

Every year Human Rights Day marks conferences around the world dedicated to ensuring that these ideals are pursued, and that the basic Human Rights of every person is made a priority in the global theater.



And



Gingerbread Decorating Day



“Run, run as fast as you can! You can’t catch me. I’m the Gingerbread Man!”

December 13th means that Christmas is creeping closer and closer, and it’s getting to be time to prepare for this holiday associated with so many traditions.

One of those traditions is the baking of gingerbread.

What child hasn’t dreamed of baking, building and decorating an entire gingerbread house, that could then be inhabited by a colorful little gingerbread family?

Gingerbread Decorating Day is here to help all kids, from ages 1 to 92, get as much fun out of the season as possible!

The History of Gingerbread Decorating Day

Gingerbread is though to have been brought to Europe by an Armenian monk named Gregory of Nicopolis in the 10th century who had brought the necessary spices back from the Middle East, and then taught the art of gingerbread making, what with the spices and the molasses, to French Christians until his death.

Gingerbread then made its way around Europe–in the 13th century, it made its way to Sweden, where it was baked by nuns to help soothe indigestion. There, it slowly became popular to paint the cookies and use them as window decorations as well. The 13th century also saw gingerbread make its debut in the city of Toruń in Poland, where the honey supplied by the local villages made the cookies especially delicious.

To this day Pierniki Toruńskie, as they are known in Poland, are an icon of Poland’s national cuisine. From the 17th century onwards, gingerbread was sold in monasteries and pharmacies in England, where it was thought to have medicinal properties, and gingerbread became the symbol of the town of Market Drayton, which was particularly known for it. In the play, “Love’s Labour’s Lost”, Shakepeare himself wrote, “And I had but one penny in the world, thou should’st have it to buy gingerbread.”

In 1875, the gingerbread man was first introduced to holiday traditions through a fairytale published in St. Nicholas magazine, where he was depicted as a holiday treat that was eventually eaten by a hungry fox.

[IceWizard]

December 10 Birthdays


Bobby Flay - 52



Emily Dickinson - (1830-1886)



Nia Peeples - 55



Ada Lovelace - (1815-1852)



Susan Dey - 64








December 10th

2009: While boarding a flight to Taipei, Taiwan at Los Angeles International Airport to kick off Guns N’ Roses tour in support of Chinese Democracy singer Axl Rose attacked a paparazzi for allegedly getting too close to a woman in Rose’s entourage. The photographer didn’t file charges against Rose.

2007: Led Zeppelin performed their first concert in 19 years at London’s O2 Arena. Jason Bonham filled in on drums for his father, the late John Bonham. Over one million people applied for a chance at the 9,000 pairs of tickets.

1999: Rick Danko, bassist for The Band died in his sleep at his home near Woodstock, NY. He was 56 years old.

1998: Bruce Springsteen won a $3 million legal battle in the U.K. with two companies that wanted to release previously unreleased songs from his early career. Masquerade Music wanted to release an album titled Before the Fame and Flute International wanted to release an album of 19 unreleased songs.

1983: Pat Benatar peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Love is a Battlefield”, Benatar’s second top ten single in the U.S.

1983: Stevie Nicks made her first appearance as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live where she performed “Stand Back” and “Nightbird”.

1976: Generation X, featuring Billy Idol on lead vocals made their live debut at the Central College of Art and Design in London.

1971: Frank Zappa was pushed off stage by a jealous boyfriend during a concert at London’s Rainbow Theatre. Zappa suffered a broken leg and a fractured skull, which required him to spend nine months in a wheelchair.

1967: The Steve Miller Blues Band signed with Capitol Records for $750,000. The Blues portion of the band’s name would shortly be dropped.

1966: The Beach Boys reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart for one week with “Good Vibrations” off their highly praised album Pet Sounds.

[IceWizard]

Sunday 11 Dec 2016

Worldwide Candle Lighting Day



For hundreds of years, lighting a candle has been a way to show respect for those that have died. This beautiful gesture shows that although someone may be gone from this world, their memory will endure, and the light of their flame will continue to inspire and guide others.

Worldwide Candle Lighting Day is a celebration of solidarity and memory. It’s a day on which people around the world gather to light candles for children who have died and to show that they will always be loved and never forgotten.

The candles are lit at the same time in every time zone, meaning that a consistent warm glow passes around the planet for a full 24-hour day.

The History of Worldwide Candle Lighting Day

Worldwide Candle Lighting Day was a gift to the bereavement community from The Compassionate Friend.

The Compassionate Friend’s Worldwide Candle Lighting Day started in the United States in 1997 as a small internet observance in honor of children who lived tragically short lives for any number of reasons, from sickness, to accidents, to war, but has since spread throughout the world.

Nowadays, hundreds of formal candle lighting events are held in many different countries and thousands of informal candle lightings are conducted in homes as families gather in quiet remembrance of children who have died, but will never be forgotten. many organizations join in to observe this holiday, some of which are local bereavement groups, churches, funeral homes, hospitals, hospices, children’s gardens, schools, cemeteries, and community centers, and rememberance services have ranged in size from just a few people to nearly a thousand over the years since the creation of this special day.

All of this just goes to show how necessary it was to set this day aside for this purpose.



And



International Mountain Day



Towering, majestic, and beautiful. Mountains are some of the most beautiful of nature’s structures, stolid and regal they stand against the sky, of such a size that they can catch entire countryside’s in their shadow, and turn back the ravages of storms against their unflinching sides.

They are the source of recreation and resource, with snow covered sides providing ski slopes to enthusiasts, and minerals in abundance to those brave enough to delve into their stony sides.

In certain areas of the world they are also a source of unique agriculture, providing ample space for the production of those products that grow best on their slopes. Coffee, Cocoa, Herbs, Spices, and the form of handicrafts that spring from the minds of those who live in the unchanging protection of these towering edifices to geology. International Mountain Day is your opportunity to head out and appreciate these unique landforms, and all they have to offer.

History of International Mountain Day

Established in December of 2003, the United Nations General Assembly created this day to help bring awareness to all of the things we rely on mountains for. Whether it’s all of the glories mentioned above, or how necessary they are for the health and well-being of the flora and fauna that call them their home, International Mountain Day promotes them all.

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December 11 Birthdays


Nikki Sixx - 58



Jermaine Jackson - 62



Brenda Lee - 72



Karla Souza - 31



John Kerry - 73



Vampira - (1922-2008)



Donna Mills - 76








December 11th

2002: David Lee Roth filed a lawsuit against his then-former bandmates in Van Halen and Warner Bros. Records for unpaid royalties, claiming he was not included in their 1996 contract renegotiation with Warner Brothers Records.

2002: The remaining dates of Guns N’ Roses’ North American tour was cancelled by promoters after a riot in Philadelphia six days earlier due to Axl Rose no-showing the concert. 35 concerts were scheduled, but only 16 took place.

1993: Guns N’ Roses entered the Billboard 200 Album Chart at number four with their covers album “The Spaghetti Incident?” which was their last album to feature original guitarist Slash and original bassist Duff McKagan.

1982: Pat Benatar peaked at number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Shadows of the Night”, Benatar’s seventh top forty single in the U.S.

1982: Billy Idol made his first appearance on American Bandstand where he performed “Hot in the City” and “White Wedding”.

1978: Black Sabbath performed their last concert with their original lineup at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, NM. They later reunited for one- off performances at Live Aid in 1985 and in 1992 at Ozzy Osbourne’s “farewell” concerts before touring sporadically between the years of 1997-2005.

1976: During a Kiss concert in Lakeland, FL, Ace Frehley accidentally touched a short-circuited light bulb and was electrocuted. Frehley later returned to finish the concert and this incident inspired the song “Shock Me” which was Frehley’s first lead vocal in Kiss.

1972: Genesis made their U.S. live debut at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA outside of Boston.

1968: The Rolling Stones began filming their Rock and Roll Circus television special. Special guests included The Who, John Lennon, Jethro Tull and Eric Clapton. This television special wouldn’t see the light of day until 1996.



Birthdays:

Nikki Sixx - Bassist for Motley Crue born in 1958

[IceWizard]

Monday 12 Dec 2016

National Poinsettia Day

“Conversely, the red plant itself burns a brighter red when set off by the green than when it grows among its peers. In the bed I always reserved for poinsettia seedlings, there was little to distinguish one plant from its neighbors. My poinsettia did not turn scarlet until I planted it in new surroundings. Color is not something one has, color is bestowed on one by others.” Arthur Japin

Poinsettia Day, a day to celebrate the ever popular red flower used around the Christmas holiday season. When looking at a Poinsettia, all we can think of is “The Poinsettia is to Christmas like a pumpkin is to Halloween”

But where is the Poinsettia from, and how did it become a Christmas staple?

That’s why we’re here to find out what Poinsettia Day is all about!

History of Poinsettia Day

To find out where the Poinsettia flower originated from, we have to take a look in the past. In 1480 to his death, Aztec King Montezuma adorned his palace with Poinsettia or Cuetlaxochitl as it was known by the Aztecs, having his people cultivate the flower as a gift from the Gods. Poinsettia was served as a reminder of the sacrifice that the Aztec gods had made to create the universe and that the debt would be repaid in human sacrifices.

The Aztecs used the Poinsettia’s sap to cure fevers and the leaves make a dye. Then, in the 17th century after the Conquistadors invaded Mexico, the blood red wild flower became a part of Christian ceremony for the first time when it was used in the nativity procession, the Fiesta of Santa Pesebre.

It’s around this time that many legends originated, attempting to explain why the plant, beginning to be called “La flor de Nochebuena,” or Holy Night had acquired its bright and beautiful red color.

After being discovered in 1828 by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the poinsettia became a popular specimen among botanists. One Botanist in particular by the name of Wilenow, in 1833 he named the Poinsettia “Euporbia pulcherrima.”

But after only four years another botanist by the name of William Hickling Prescott renamed the flower to “Poinsettia pulcherrima” in honor of the man who brought the flower back to be studied, Joel Poinsett.



And



Gingerbread House Day



Gingerbread House Day is a day that can be celebrated in a wide variety of fun ways, and will be a day that children in particular will really enjoy.

Celebrating Gingerbread House Day involves creating a gingerbread house. But, the best part is that once the house has been created it can be devoured!

Gingerbread House Day should be a social event, and be used as something that engages children and adults alike. Children and parents can make a gingerbread house together and then, later, the gingerbread houses can be eaten at a party especially laid on for the occasion.

Alternatively, a giant gingerbread house can be created by several people, with guests invited to decorate it with icing sugar or sweets.

Charities can also benefit via Gingerbread House Day. Portions of a gingerbread house, or mini gingerbread houses can be sold to raise funds for the charity in question.

[IceWizard]

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December 12 Birthdays


Frank Sinatra - (1915-1998)



Bob Barker - 93



Jennifer Connelly - 46



Dionne Warwick - 76



Sheila E. - 59



Cathy Rigby - 64



Connie Francis - 78






December 12th

2003: Mick Jagger was knighted by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. Jagger brought his 92 year old father Joe to attend the ceremony.

2001: Nirvana bandmates Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic filed a countersuit against Courtney Love involving future releases of Nirvana material. The suit was in response to a lawsuit Love filed earlier in the year claiming Nirvana’s contract with the Universal Music Group was null and void and that all rights pertaining to Nirvana would revert to her.

1985: Ian Stewart, longtime road manager and touring keyboardist for The Rolling Stones died of a heart attack in the waiting room of a U.K. clinic. He was 47 years old.

1976: Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band released “Night Moves” which went on to become Seger’s first top ten hit reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.

1974: After being in the group for five and a half years, Mick Taylor announced his departure from The Rolling Stones.

1970: The Doors performed their final concert with their original lineup at The Warehouse in New Orleans.

1970: Neil Young peaked at number thirty-three on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” Young’s first top forty single in the U.S.

1969: John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band released the live album Live Peace in Toronto 1969 which was recorded at the Toronto Rock ‘n Roll Revival concert which took place on September 13th.

1967: The Rolling Stones’ guitarist Brian Jones received a $1,500 fine and three years probation in lieu of a nine month prison sentence for marijuana possession after three psychiatrists concur that Jones was in a poor mental state and had suicidal tendencies.



Birthdays:

Dickey Betts - Guitarist for The Allman Brothers Band born in 1943

Rob Tyner - Singer for MC5 born in 1944

Clive Bunker - Drummer for Jethro Tull born in 1946

Bruce Kulick - Guitarist for Kiss born in 1953