Today is...

[IceWizard]

26 Jan 2017

Spouse's Day





Also known as Military Spouse’s Day, Spouse’s Day is dedicated to recognising spouses of everywhere; from being thankful for fulfilment and security of a long-term relationship, to the boost to morale and well-being provided by spouses of those in the military.



And



Australia Day



Australia. A country. A continent. A land of pristine beaches and merciless deserts, adorable koala bears and murderous great white sharks. The sixth largest country in the world, with but 21 million inhabitants. Closer to Asia than any other continent, so close that many “pop over” to Bali for the weekend, yet bearing virtually no resemblance to Asia whatever. And as comedian Victor Borge put it, “When it’s midnight in Australia, nobody knows what time it is anywhere else.” To most people, Australia is a land of mystery, danger and majestic beauty. All who have been there come back astonished at the number of things they didn’t know existed before going there, and those that decide to stay there rarely look back. That’s why it goes without saying that this unique continent more than deserves its own day. Right mate?

The History of Australia Day

Australia day is celebrated annually on January 26th, as that marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships at New South Wales as well as the raising of the flag of Great Britain at that location. In present-day Australia, however, celebrations focus much less on the arrival of the aforementioned ships, and instead concentrate more on the diverse society and landscape of the nation. Many community and family events are organised, as well as various celebrations welcoming new immigrants. Australia is a relatively young country, as federation occurred just over 100 years ago in 1901, so it was not until 1935 that Australia Day was actually celebrated. Due to the rapid decline of the indigenous population after the arrival of British ships on Australia’s shores, some prefer to call this holiday “Invasion Day” as a way of remembering the many that died from various diseases in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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January 26 Birthdays


Ellen DeGeneres - 59



Wayne Gretzky - 56



Eddie Van Halen - 62



Paul Newman - (1925 - 2008)



Louis Zamperini - (1917 - 2014)







January 26th


2004: Sex Pistols singer John Lydon appeared on the U.K. reality show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me out Of Here set in the Australian outback. Lydon left after four days earning $42,500 to appear on the program.

2003: Billy Joel was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital after he lost control of his car in Long Island & smashed it into a tree.

1997: ZZ Top, James Brown & the Blues Brothers performed the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans.

1991: Queen reached the top of the U.K. Singles Chart for the third time with “Innuendo”. The flamenco guitar solo in the song was performed by Yes guitarist Steve Howe.

1989: Bon Jovi kicked off the North American leg of their Jersey Syndicate Tour in support of New Jersey at the Reunion Arena in Dallas. Skid Row was the opening band.

1986: Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Allen Collins was involved in a car accident where his car ran off the road, crashed into a culvert, his girlfriend Debra Jean Watts was killed & Collins was paralyzed from the waist down.

1979: Bob Dylan formed his record label Accomplice Records. Little would come of it.

1977: Founding Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green was committed to a British mental institution after he fired a pistol at a messenger who attempted to deliver a royalty check.

1970: John Lennon, wrote, recorded and mixed “Instant Karma!” which was produced by Phil Spector and released 11 days later.



Birthdays:

Ashley Hutchings - Bassist for Fairport Convention born in 1945

Corky Laing - Drummer for Mountain born in 1948

Eddie Van Halen - Guitarist for Van Halen born in 1955

[Linville]

Thanks Ice, for always having an interesting read.....

Have a great day friend!  

[IceWizard]

27 Jan 2017

National Geographic Day



National Geographic is something we take for granted, which is not surprising considering that it has been around for well over 100 years. The first issue of the magazine was published in 1888, and National Geographic Magazines have been published regularly, once per month, since then. National Geographic Magazine has covered thousands of topics since its inception, from lovely, peaceful Balinese dancers to controversial topics such as the brutal killing of animals by poachers and those convinced of the magical properties of certain animal parts. For almost 130 years, National Geographic magazine has been awakening people’s interest in far away, unknown countries, their foods and customs, and above all, those who live there, both human and not. And this is of course why National Geographic is more than deserving of its own day, and we’ve seen to it that it got one.

The History of National Geographic Day

National Geographic Magazine was created as a text-oriented publication by the National Geographic society in 1888. Due to the popularity of the segments containing numerous pictures, National Geographic magazine quickly switched to extensive pictorial content. National Geographic Magazine became especially famous for its balanced portrayal of North America compared to the countries behind the iron curtain, downplaying politics to focus on culture, and not avoiding the Cold War topic as many publications tended to do at that time. More recently, National Geographic Magazine has been especially outspoken on environmental issues, such as deforestation and endangered species. National Geographic Magazine has also been praised for its beautiful photography and its book-like quality.



And



National Chocolate Cake Day



There before you is the ultimate in birthday confections, a rich and luxurious chocolate cake with rich strawberry filling, you know it’s going to be a good day. Maybe you’re just coming into work, and some thoughtful soul has laid out a tray of chocolate cupcakes, each with their own design and one waiting for your mouth to wrap lovingly around it and fade away on a cocoa fueled holiday. However you like your chocolate cake, Chocolate Cake Day gives you an excuse to indulge as deeply as you’d like!

History of Chocolate Cake Day

Chocolate cake has been with us just over 150 years, having first come on the scene in 1764, when it was discovered that grinding cocoa beans between heavy stones produced cocoa powder, which could then become chocolate. 60 years would pass before Conrad Van Houten discovered a method by which he could mechanically extract fat from the cacao liquor which produced cacao butter. Long story short, this man is the reason that chocolate is actually affordable, and we all have him to thank for it!

From this point forward the types of cake and techniques involved in making them just kept expanding, so there are dozens of kinds of cake on top of the original ‘traditional’ chocolate cake. From the Black Forest cake with its cherries to the German Chocolate Cake with its rich coconut pecan frosting, new types are being invented all the time, and chocolate still reigns as King.

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January 27 Birthdays


Bobby "Blue" Bland - (1930 - 2013)



Elmore James - (1918 - 1963)



Nick Mason - 72



Brian Downey - 65



Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - (1756 - 1791) 35



John Witherspoon - 75



Patton Oswalt - 48



Lewis Carroll - (1832 - 1898) 65



Donna Reed - (1921 - 1986) 64



Edward Smith - (1850 - 1912) 62



Mimi Rogers - 61







January 27th


2005: R.E.M. had to cancel a concert for the first time in ten years due to their crew and gear being held up at the Estonia/Russia border. They were scheduled to play the Ice Arena in St. Petersburg, Russia.

1997: Pat Boone made an appearance on the American Music Awards wearing leathers and a studded collar to promote his In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy album which featured cover songs of metal & hard rock songs. Boone, alongside Alice Cooper presented the award for the Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock artist to Metallica. The show also featured performances by Metallica & Motley Crue, performing with Vince Neil for the first time since 1991.

1990: Tom Petty Day was declared in Petty’s birthplace of Gainesville, FL. Petty also peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Free Fallin’” which was Petty’s only top ten single as a solo artist in the U.S.

1990: Eric Clapton peaked at number sixteen on the Billboard 200 Album Chart with Journeyman which went on to sell two million copies in the U.S. & was heralded as a return to form.

1990: Foreigner singer Lou Gramm peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Just Between You and Me” which was Gramm’s second and final top ten single as a solo artist in the U.S.

1976: David Bowie sued his former attorney, Michael Lippan for unfair business practices and withholding of funds.

1971: David Bowie arrived in the U.S. for the first time. Bowie couldn’t perform live, but he did gain publicity for wearing a dress during a promotional event.

1967: The Beatles signed a new, nine-year contract with EMI Records.

1964: The Rolling Stones appeared on the U.K. television show Juke Box Jury as panelists. They caused a furor in the British press for their impolite behavior, which included referring to Elvis Presley’s current single as dated.



Birthdays:

Elmore James born in 1918

Bobby Bland born in 1930

Nick Mason - Drummer for Pink Floyd born in 1944

Brian Downey - Drummer for Thin Lizzy born in 1951

Seth Justman - Keyboardist for the J. Geils Band born in 1951

[IceWizard]

28 Jan 2017

National Data Privacy Day



How much information about you is freely available to strangers? How much access do you grant social networks to your likes, hobbies and personal information? Data Privacy Day encourages you to ask these kinds of questions, and to look after, value and protect your privacy.



And



National Blueberry Pancake Day



Who doesn’t love waking up to a fresh plate of blueberry pancakes, or even indulging in them for dessert? They truly are a good of the Gods, and they are so universally loved that they even have their own day! That’s right, Blueberry Pancake Day is a thing. One day of every year you can celebrate the sacred blueberry pancake and give it the love and respect it deserves. Select diners and restaurants participate in the day, serving up extra special, and – of course – extra big, stacks of pancakes oozing with delicious blueberries all day long.

This is one day where you can eat blueberry pancakes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert with no guilt or judgement. Why not check out some recipes and have some fun creating twists on the classic pancake recipe, and be sure to stock up on blueberries for those inevitable second helpings!





And



National Kazoo Day



Kazoo Day celebrates the noble history of the buzzing distinctive music that comes only from the fantastic Kazoo! This is a sound that’s well known to students of all ages, and it has a truly unique sound. If you love the sound of this buzzing little pipe of madness, Kazoo Day is your opportunity to celebrate it!

History of Kazoo Day

This distinctively American musical instrument was designed in 1840 and brought to the world as the “Down South Submarine” in 1852 during the Georgia State Fair by Alabama Vest and Thaddeus Von Clegg, the latter a German-American clockmaker. Nearly 60 years later the commercial production of this device started, and it began to enter the world created out of the dully shining silver of Tin.

Rather than having any particular keys or tuning devices, the music of the Kazoo is created by humming into the instrument, and actually heralds back to earlier instruments based on this kind of vibration. Believe it or not there is a strong history of instruments that function by altering the voice of the musician.

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Henry VII - (1457 - 1509) 52


Alan Alda - 80



Sarah McLachlan - 49






January 28th


2009: Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist Billy Powell died at his home in Orange Park, FL of a suspected heart attack (an autopsy wasn’t performed). He was 56 years old.

2005: Traffic drummer Jim Capaldi died of stomach cancer. He was 60 years old.

1995: Yoko Ono recorded “Hiroshima Sky is Always Blue” at Paul McCartney’s Mill Studio in Sussex, U.K with Paul, Linda McCartney & Sean Lennon.

1984: Billy Idol made his first and only appearance on Saturday Night Live where he performed “White Wedding” and “Rebel Yell”.

1984: The Romantics peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Talking in Your Sleep” which was their only top ten single in the U.S.

1978: Ted Nugent was approached by a fan to autograph his arm with a Bowie knife, in which Nugent obliged.

1978: Styx peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Come Sail Away” which was their second top ten single in the U.S.

1968: During a tour of Australia, a plane carrying members of The Who & the Small Faces landed in Melbourne en route from Adelaide to Sydney & was delayed for three hours amidst claims of drunkenness & unruly behavior. The flight continued with two security guards on board.

1965: The Who appeared on U.K. television for the first time to perform “I Can’t Explain” on Ready, Steady, Go!

1956: Elvis Presley made his American television debut on the Dorsey Brothers Stage Show. Jackie Gleason predicted “He can’t last. I tell you flatly, he can’t last”.

[Orange rabbit]

Blueberry pancake day. I must go find some. I don't mean to downplay everything else you put in this thread for today, but blueberry pancakes are mmmmm. When I was little, my mom would always make them for us on sundays as a treat. Mostly during blueberry season.

Thanks for bringing back a great memory for me.


OR

[IceWizard]

29 Jan 2017

Thomas Paine Day



Freethinkers Day, also known as Thomas Paine Day, is an opportunity to promote appreciation of freethought thought the life and works of Thomas Paine. Freethought supports reason over faith, and rejects arbitrary authority.

Thomas Paine was a courageous freethinker, whose life and work inspired great social and political advancement across world. Raised in England, Paine played a vital role in the American and French Revolutions. His books and pamphlets, including The Age of Reason, The Rights of Man, and Common Sense gained a mass audience for the liberating philosophy of the Enlightenment.

Thomas Paine (1737-1809) arrived in America in 1774 at Benjamin Franklin's request. On January 10, 1776, he published Common Sense, a remarkable and powerful republican pamphlet which had an immediate success. He served in the Revolutionary War under General Greene and later in official positions appointed by congress and in the Pennsylvania legislature. In his later publication, Age of Reason, Paine expressed that "all religions are in their nature mild and benign" when not associated with political systems. Paine was the quintessential Deist of the 18th century.

Between March 1791 and February 1792 he published numerous editions of his Rights of Man, in which he defended the French Revolution. The words of Thomas Paine inspired many to strive for political, economic and social advancement. He was among the first to call for an end to slavery and the establishment of human rights around the world.

In the 1990s, the Truthseeker magazine began celebrating Freethinkers Day on Thomas Paine's birthday in order to educate the public on the importance of Thomas Paine in the history of freedom. Also in the 1990s, the Thomas Paine Foundation began celebrating the birthday of Thomas Paine on January 29th, a Thomas Paine Day proclamation on June 8 and other Paine theme events during the year.



And



Curmudgeons Day



It’s Curmudgeons Day! Bah humbug!

Merriam Webster defines a curmudgeon as “a crusty, ill-tempered, and usually old man,” but I have a bone to pick with that definition: why can’t I be a curmudgeon?! I’m crusty and ill-tempered enough!

Curmudgeons Day is held on January 29 in honor of legendary comedian W. C. Fields. Since most of my generation is unfamiliar with W. C. Fields.

I’ve pulled a few quotes from W. C. Fields:

“Start every day off with a smile and get it over with.”

“I like children – fried."

"A rich man is nothing but a poor man with money."

"I never drink water; that is the stuff that rusts pipes. "

"I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food."

"It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to."

"The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath."

"Reminds me of my safari in Africa. Somebody forgot the corkscrew and for several days we had to live on nothing but food and water."

Celebrate Curmudgeons Day by being a curmudgeon or watching a few good curmudgeons – Oscar the Grouch, Grumpy the Dwarf, John and Max from Grumpy Old Men, or (my personal favorite animated curmudgeon) Carl from Up!

“In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt!There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.'”

Exodus 16:2-3

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January 29 Birthdays



Tommy Ramone - (1952 - 2014) 62



David Byron - (1947 - 1985) 38



Oprah Winfrey - 63



Harriet Tubman - (1820 - 1913) 93



Tom Selleck - 72



Heather Graham - 47



Paul Ryan - 47



Sara Gilbert - 42



William McKinley - (1843 - 1901) 58



Thomas Paine - (1736 - 1809) 73



John D. Rockefeller Jr. - (1874 - 1960) 86






January 29th


2006: Bryan Adams became the first Western artist to perform in Karachi, Pakistan, where he performed a benefit concert to raise money for underprivileged children to go to school and for victims of the 2005 Pakistan earthquake.

1992: Willie Dixon, who has had his songs covered by artists such as The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Animals, and Eric Clapton to name a few, died of heart failure in Burbank, CA. He was 76 years old.

1983: Stevie Nicks married record promoter Kim Anderson. The couple would be divorced in April 1984.

1983: “Shock the Monkey” by Peter Gabriel peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, which was Gabriel’s first top 40 single & his first single to chart higher in the U.S. than the U.K.

1982: Joe Walsh, backed by a band billed as the Hollywood Rock ‘n’ Roll Revue performed a benefit concert in Santa Barbara, CA. The benefit was the Pacific Alliance Presents A Water For Life Benefit Concert For A Non-Nuclear Future.

1977: Aerosmith reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart for the second time as “Walk This Way” peaked at number ten.

1969: Fleetwood Mac reached number one on the U.K. Singles Chart for the only time with the instrumental, “Albatross”.

1967: The Who and The Jimi Hendrix Experience performed at London’s Saville Theatre.

1964: The Beatles recorded their first and only session for EMI Records outside of the U.K. in Paris at Pathe Marconi Studios. They recorded German versions of “Can’t Buy Me Love”, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” & “She Loves You”.




Birthdays:

Leadbelly born in 1889

David Byron - Singer for Uriah Heep born in 1947

Tommy Ramone - Drummer for The Ramones born in 1952

Eddie Jackson - Bassist for Queensryche born in 1961

[IceWizard]

30 Jan 2017

National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day



Bubble Wrap appreciation day is one of the most unnecessary holidays we can imagine! I mean, who needs help appreciating Bubble Wrap? It’s a fantastic and fun toy that was created by accident, solely for the purpose of preserving delicate items through shipping. From there it’s become a therapeutic bonus prize in every shipping container, loved by men, women, children, and animals alike! If you’ve never had a piece of Bubble Wrap in your hands and just HAD to start popping it? We’re not sure we want to know you.

History of Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day

Ok, ok… So it’s not INTENTIONALLY a toy, but the truth behind Bubble Wrap is perhaps even stranger. You see, Bubble Wrap was originally formed from two shower curtains being sealed together, and the inventors tried to market this as wallpaper. It’s perhaps sad that this wasn’t actually successful, who knows how many cases of extreme anxiety could have been solved if all you had to do was pound your walls for a little relief?

Ironically, this wasn’t the only misstep on its way to its true calling, the next thing they tried to market it as was greenhouse insulation, which was also largely unsuccessful. A year later they discovered its perfect purpose, and the line of Bubble Wrap brand packaging came to pass. It started off on an auspicious path with IBM being the first customer, shipping the IBM 1401 in air cushioned comfort out to its many customers.

Each year Bubble Wrap hosts a ‘Young Inventor’ award that encourages them to find ways to use Bubble Wrap outside of packaging. Whether you need a Bubble Wrap door cover to help you keep out the dings, or a Bubble Wrap cushy wheelchair to ensure your loved ones are safe from every danger, these young inventors work every year to try to create the newest Bubble Wrap rage.



And



Blue Monday



January can be great month for many different reasons, most of all that a new year has just begun that we can use to fulfill our New Year’s resolutions and achieve any number of other things we’ve decided to put out minds to. However, a cold, cloudy January can also be quite the comedown after the festive holiday season that preceded it, one that was filled with the very scrumptious dishes that caused us to gain the weight we’re endeavoring to lose in the first place. So, to be fair: of all the months of the year, January can be considered the bleakest of them all. And that’s what the folks at Sky Travel were getting at.

The History of Blue Monday

Blue Monday was created back in 2005 by Sky Travel Shop, a television channel devoted exclusively to programs about travelling, documentaries and commercials for travel agencies. The day was originally part of a publicity campaign, but later gained popularity and its share of both supporters and opponents, and seems to generally be here to stay. The date varies from year to year, depending on a variety of factors, such as weather, debt, the time that has passed since Christmas day, the time that has passed since we failed at fulfilling our New Year’s resolutions, low motivational levels connected with previous failures, and the need to take action. The formula for calculating which day is the “bluest” day of the year has been mocked by many academics as pseudoscience, as it does not use any specific units and does not seem to be particularly foolproof. Nevertheless, it was published under the name of Cliff Arnall, who had at that time been a tutor at the Centre for Lifelong Learning, a Further Education center attached to Cardiff University.

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January 30 Birthdays



Christian Bale - 43



Phil Collins - 66



Franklin D. Roosevelt - (1882 - 1945) 63



Dick Cheney - 76



Gene Hackman - 87



Dick Martin - (1922 - 2008) 86






January 30th


1995: Led Zeppelin received the International Artist Award at the 22nd American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Jimmy Page & Robert Plant performed “Black Dog” via satellite from London on the program.

1990: Bob Dylan was awarded with the title Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by France’s Culture Ministry.

1990: The Black Crowes released their debut album Shake Your Money Maker which went on to reach number four on the Billboard 200 Album Chart and sell five million copies in the U.S.

1989: During Guns N’ Roses’ performance of “Patience” at the 16th annual American Music Awards at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium, Don Henley filled in on drums due to drummer Steven Adler having the flu.

1974: Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer was arrested for swimming nude in a hotel pool in Salt Lake City. The pool was clearly visible from the street.

1973: Kiss performed their first concert at the Coventry Club in Queens, NY for an audience of three people.

1970: T. Rex singer & guitarist Marc Bolan married girlfriend June Child at the Kensington Registry Office in the U.K. They would divorce in 1975.

1969: The Beatles performed their final concert on the rooftop of Apple offices in London. The concert was halted 42 minutes into their set due to noise complaints.

1967: In Kent, U.K. The Beatles shot the music video for “Strawberry Fields Forever”.



Birthdays:

Marty Balin - Singer for Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship born in 1942

Steve Marriott - Singer for the Small Faces and Humble Pie born in 1947

Phil Collins born in 1951

[IceWizard]

31 Jan 2017


Gorilla Suit Day



Date: January 31 Origin: Mad Magazine artist Don Martin created the idea of Gorilla Suit Day for a 1963 comic strip in which a character mocks the holiday and is then assaulted by gorillas and people in gorilla suits. Since that time, the holiday has been semi-celebrated every year by fans of Mad Magazine and Don Martin by dressing up in a gorilla suit. In 2007, Martin’s widow asked one of the holiday’s biggest cheerleaders, writer Mark Evanier, to cease promoting it and to remove all mentions of Gorilla Suit Day from his website.



And



Backward Day



Backward Day. The day where the world gets turned upside down and inside becomes out and madness becomes sanity and day becomes night, at least in concept. There’s just too much seriousness in the air, and sometimes you really just have to bend all the rules and let it all hang out.

History of Backward Day

Backward Day has a really long history, far older than the name of the holiday itself. In almost every culture there came a time of year when all the societal rules got turned on their head. Rome had Saturnalia, a day when all social norms were turned on their head. Gambling was no longer forbidden, and the masters took the day serving their slaves at the high table. During no other time was free speech actually permitted, especially amongst the slaves, but during Saturnalia, all manner of insult was allowed.

There are other cultures throughout the world that celebrate this changing of the guard, this overcoming of mores and exemplifying of wildness. In the end, it all comes down to questioning the way the world is established and the rules that we have in place to govern our behavior. Backward Day isn’t just a day of silliness, but of mental revolution.

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January 31 Birthdays



Justin Timberlake - 36



Jackie Robinson - (1919 - 1972) 53



Nolan Ryan - 69



Zane Grey - (1872 - 1939) 67



Tallulah Bankhead - (1902 - 1968) 66



Jean Simmons - (1929 - 2010) 80



Carol Channing - 95



John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) - 60



Adrian Vandenberg - 62






January 31st


2007: An unreleased poem written and recorded by Jim Morrison titled “Woman in the Window” was set to music & given to Global Cool to raise awareness of global warming.

1998: Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, & Southside Johnny performed at the Come Together benefit concert to benefit the family of Sgt. Patrick King, a police officer killed in the line of duty. This concert also turned into an impromptu E Street Band reunion.

1987: Genesis peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Land of Confusion” which was their fourth top ten single in the U.S.

1985: John Fogerty performed in public for the first time in fourteen years at the Chaplin Stage in Hollywood, CA.

1979: The Clash kicked off their first North American tour in Vancouver, with Bo Diddley as the support act throughout the tour.

1970: The Grateful Dead were arrested for possession of LSD and barbituates in New Orleans. This event would later inspire their song “Truckin’”.

1970: Led Zeppelin peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Whole Lotta Love” which was their only top ten single in the U.S.

1969: The Beatles recorded the master takes of “Let It Be”, “The Long and Winding Road” & “Two of Us” at Apple Studios in London.

1959: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens & the Big Bopper played at The Armory in Duluth, MN. Seventeen year old Robert Zimmerman was in attendance & became inspired to become a musician after attending this concert. He’s better known today as Bob Dylan.



Birthdays:

Terry Kath - Guitarist for Chicago born in 1946

Phil Manzanera - Guitarist for Roxy Music born in 1951

Adrian Vandenberg - Guitarist for Whitesnake born in 1954

John Lydon - Singer for the Sex Pistols born in 1956

[IceWizard]

01 Feb 2017

Decorating With Candy Day



I am literally jumping and squealing like a little kid! You heard correctly, it is Decorating with Candy Day! Let your imagination run away today. Put a sprinkle of candy on everything you eat or drink. Enjoy that sugar high as long as it lasts! Perhaps you were thinking of updating your child’s room, today is a great day for inspiration. Decorating with candy could come in the form of pictures, collages or using candy decorated fabrics. The sky is the limit when talking about this. Let your imagination guide you on Decorating with Candy Day.

History of Decorating with Candy Day

Through the ages candy has been used in celebration as well as decoration. Think of the Christmas decorations or even the decorations for Halloween and you can see how candy has woven its way into our lives. There are other holidays too that candy plays a central part in. Valentine’s day may be about love, but there had better be some candy with your flowers right ladies? Easter is another holiday that has a candy-coated vibe. I can see why people would want to have a day dedicated to being creative with those sweet decorations and that’s Decorating with Candy Day!



And



National Baked Alaska Day



Thank you, American physicist Mr. Benjamin Thompson, for discovering how to make meringue back in the early 1800’s! For meringue is a key component of Baked Alaska, the spotlighted dish being celebrated on Baked Alaska Day!

Baked Alaska is made by placing slices of sponge cake in the bottom of a pie pan, filling it with vanilla ice cream and then covering completely with a whipped meringue mixture. The whole thing is baked in the oven at a very high temperature for a short period of time to allow the meringue to solidify slightly and brown. The meringue protects the ice cream from melting, thus giving this dessert its distinctive cold/hot sensation and creamy/crunchy texture loved by so many.

This sweet treat was named by the chef at the famous New York Delmonico’s Restaurant in 1876 to celebrate America’s acquisition of its new territory. Its lesser known name of Norwegian Omelette also gives tribute to this dessert’s characteristic appearance of a cold, snow covered mountain. Enjoy!

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February 1 Birthdays



Ray "Eye Patch" Sawyer - 80



Ronda Rousey - 30



Lisa Marie Presley - 49



Brandon Lee - (1965 - 1993) [28]



Clark Gable - (1901 - 1960) [59]



Rick James - (1948 - 2004) [56]



Pauly Shore - 48



Sherman Hemsley - (1938 - 2012) [74]



Elisabeth Sladen - 65






February 1st

1995: Rush’s self-titled debut album was certified Gold by the RIAA twenty-one years after its initial release.

1988: The Cars announced via a press release that after recording six albums together, they were splitting up.

1985: The Eagles’ Glenn Frey made his acting debut with a guest appearance on Miami Vice where he played drug dealer Jimmy Cole.

1978: Bob Dylan’s four hour largely autobiographical movie Renaldo and Clara premiered in Los Angeles.

1977: Led Zeppelin’s North American tour was postponed due to Robert Plant having tonsillitis.

1968: Elvis Presley’s only child, daughter Lisa Marie was born in Memphis exactly nine months after Elvis married Priscilla.

1968: The Doors announced that Universal Pictures offered them $500,000 to star in a future film. Other announcements made included a television special, a group humor book & a book of poetry by Jim Morrison. Only Morrison’s poetry book would be released.

1964: “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart for the first of seven weeks.

1963: Neil Young made his on-stage debut with his then-group The Squires at the Riverview Community Club in Winnipeg.



Birthdays:

Ray Sawyer - Singer & guitarist for Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show born in 1937

Mike Campbell - Guitarist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers born in 1950

[IceWizard]

02 Feb 2017

Groundhog day



It’s that time again! Time to gaze towards Pennsylvania and watch a little groundhog scurry out of its den to tell the masses when to expect a break in winter weather and the spring breezes to flow. Yes, a groundhog… predicting the weather. Oh come now, stop laughing! It’s tradition. It’s fun and who doesn’t feel the need for a little fun this far into winter? Come, sit and let’s have a chat about this enduring custom. I’ll bet by the end of our chat, you will be anxiously counting down the days until next Groundhog Day!

History of Groundhog Day

Beginning in 1887 in the United States of America, Groundhog Day has grown in size and scope from its humble beginnings. When the United States made the day an official holiday, Clymer H. Freas was the editor of the Punxsutawney Spirit, a local newspaper in Punxsutawney Pennsylvania. He began to herald the town’s groundhog as the official “Groundhog Day Meteorologist”. Think about it. When you hear about this day who pops to mind? That’s right! Punxsutawney Phil! Did you know there are countless other groundhogs who take this duty of predicting the weather just as seriously as Phil? Head over to that search engine and check it out! How accurate are these furry weather people? There is some debate over that but for dear old Phil the professionals say that he is correct about 39% of the time (if it were me, I’d give him the point and say 40% but hey, that’s just my two cents!).



And



Hedgehog Day



Ouch! Hedgehog Day highlights these loveable creatures but heed this word of warning, don’t get too close. As we all know hedgehogs are covered in spines but what you may not have known is that these spines are actually hollow hairs stiffened by keratin. Hedgehogs use their spines as a defense mechanism when under threat by rolling into a tight ball so all the spikes point outwards, what is less well known is that they also use them for cheese and pineapple during cocktail parties (there is yet to be any photographic evidence of this).

Hedgehogs rely heavily on their sense of smell; they can smell food under an inch of soil and can often sense the presence of danger. They tend to search for food at night and can travel a distance of 2-3 KMs. One very strange fact about hedgehogs is that they self-anoint which seems to be connected with irregular smells or tastes making them create large quantities of frothy saliva which they flick over their spines with their tongue (please do not disturb a hedgehog in the middle of this process, it’s like catching someone in the shower).

There have been a number of famous hedgehogs in popular culture, the most famous probably being Sonic the Hedgehog, he’s certainly the fastest. Beatrix Potter created Mrs. Tiggywinkle, another well-known hedgehog who happens to be extremely good at laundry; however, she has never washed Sonic’s smelly trainers.

Enjoy hedgehogs responsibly:

It’s fine to offer food but cat/dog food is better than milk and bread
Always allow an escape route from your pond or water feature
Always check bonfires before lighting
Leave gaps in walls and fences to encourage the spiny visitors
Our research shows…
That Hedgehog Day is both a Roman tradition preceding the modern ‘Groundhog Day’, as well as the release date for Sonic The Hedgehog 3 in the USA, in 1994.

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February 2 Birthdays


Farrah Fawcett - (1947 - 2009) (62)



Duane Chapman - 63



Shakira - 40






February 2nd

2007: Van Halen announced that David Lee Roth would be rejoining them as their singer for a reunion tour which kicked off in September of that year. It was also announced that Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang would be replacing Michael Anthony as their bassist.

2006: Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora & Heather Locklear announced that they had filed for divorce. Their divorce would be finalized in April 2007.

2003: Brian Johnson of AC/DC joined The Scorpions onstage during a concert at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa to sing “Rock You Like a Hurricane”.

1992: Todd Rundgren became a parent for the third time when his son Rebop was born. It was Rundgren’s first child with singer Michele Gray who later married Todd.

1991: Iggy Pop peaked at number twenty-eight on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Candy”, a duet with Kate Pierson of The B-52’s. This was Pop’s only top 40 single in the U.S.

1980: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Don’t Do Me Like That” which was their first top ten single in the U.S.

1979: Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose in New York City. He was 21 years old.

1976: David Bowie unveiled his Thin White Duke persona when he kicked off his tour at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver.

1973: Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer injured his hands during a concert in San Francisco when a rigged piano exploded prematurely



Birthdays:

Graham Nash - Guitarist for The Hollies & Crosby, Stills, & Nash born in 1942

Ross Valory - Bassist for Journey born in 1949

Robert DeLeo - Bassist for Stone Temple Pilots born in 1966