Today is...

[IceWizard]

08 Aug 2017


Scottish Wildcat Day

”Every man in the wilderness is a hero or grand adventure, right until the night falls, the firelight crackles, and the wildcat calls.”
~ Anonymous

Have you ever stopped to wonder where modern domesticated cats came from? Surely there was once a wild variety that was something smaller than a lynx or bobcat? The Scottish Wildcat is one remaining species of the wildcats that used to roam the world before they became domesticated and joined us on our journey. Scottish Wildcat Day celebrates this species and raises awareness about the dangers facing the remaining populations in the wild.

History of Scottish Wildcat Day

The Highland Tiger has been roaming those lands since time immemorial, in fact, when it first appeared on Scotland it was clear that it had crossed the land bridge from Europe to the British Isles. As the lands became more civilized and man began competing for the wild game birds that live there, they also began killing off the native population of the Scottish Wildcat. They’re a beautiful and iconic part of Scotland, but they’re slowly disappearing. Every year they face threats that dwindle their numbers, from predation to being bred out by domesticated species.

In 1981 Scotland recognized the dangers its native wildcat was in and took strides to help protect it under the United Kingdom’s Wildlife and Countryside Act. In spite of their efforts, it’s unlikely that truly pure wildcats remain thanks to hybridization. Unfortunately, that’s not the only threat that domesticated cats pose to wildcats, their intermingling also brings disease to them, including feline calicivirus and the fatal feline leukemia virus. Scottish Wildcat Day reminds us of the importance of protecting species like this, that have a long and august history but are slowly dwindling from the world.


And




International Cat Day



International Cat Day is a full 24 hours of recognition and veneration of one of humanity’s oldest and most beloved pets. The festivities were put together for the first time in 2002 by IFAW, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, among other animal rights groups, to celebrate the most popular pet on the planet.

An estimated 500 million cats are thought to be frolicking in neighbours’ gardens across the world, which means that most every extended family is bound to have an aunt with more kittens than former husbands, whatever the country or climate. And that’s great, because owning a cat has been shown to improve mental health and to relieve stress, anxiety and depression. So when it’s raining cats and dogs outside and you don’t have someone to cuddle with, any black, ginger, Persian, Siamese, Burmese, Bengal, Shorthair, Munchkin, Balinese, RagaMuffin or any old stray cat will do the trick.

So roll out the red carpet and the catnip for your furry feline friend, because International Cat Day is that one day a year when black cats bring good luck and cat eye sunglasses match your entire wardrobe.

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August 8 Birthdays




Dustin Hoffman - 80




Anton Fig - 66




Rikki Rockett - 55




The Edge - 55










August 8th

2006: Dennis DeYoung formerly of Styx & Roger Hodgson formerly of Supertramp served as mentors on Canadian Idol where they also performed.

1999: The Guess Who reunited with Randy Bachman & Burton Cummings for the first time in 16 years to appear at the closing of the Pan American Games in Winnipeg as a personal request from the Premier of Manitoba.

1992: During a Guns N’ Roses/Metallica concert at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Metallica frontman James Hetfield suffered second & third degree burns to his left arm after stepping too close to the pyrotechnics causing them to end their set early. Guns N’ Roses also cut their set short when Axl Rose claimed he had a sore throat & a riot broke out.

1987: U2 reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart for the second and final time with “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” which spent two weeks on top.

1986: David Crosby was released from prison after serving eight months of a five year sentence for cocaine & firearm possession.

1986: Eddie Money released his sixth album Can’t Hold Back which went on to reach number 20 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart & sell one million copies in the U.S.

1981: MTV aired their first live concert stereo broadcast of an REO Speedwagon concert in Denver.

1970: Janis Joplin purchased a headstone for the grave of her biggest influence, Bessie Smith at the Mont Lawn Cemetery in Philadelphia.

1970: Christine McVie flew to the U.S. to join Fleetwood Mac shortly after announcing that she was quitting the music business.




Birthdays:

Anton Fig - Drummer for Bob Dylan, Warren Zevon, Peter Frampton & Frehley’s Comet born in 1952

Rikki Rockett - Drummer for Poison born in 1959

The Edge - Guitarist for U2 born in 1961