Today is...

[IceWizard]

24 Mar 2017


Tuberculosis Day



Every year, a day is dedicated to raising awareness about tuberculosis, commonly known as TB. The first Tuberculosis Day was in 1982, a hundred years after Dr Robert Koch announced to the scientific community that he had discovered the cause of the virulent disease, thus paving the way for an eventual cure.

At the time of Koch’s announcement, TB was one of the world’s deadliest diseases, killing an estimated one in seven people. Although the virus has almost been eradicated in the western world, it still poses a serious problem in developing countries and is making a comeback in areas where there is significant overcrowding and poor nutrition.

You can mark Tuberculosis Day by learning about the international strategies to combat the disease and by raising awareness in your own community.

This almost-forgotten disease is important because TB is not just a Dickensian disease; it is still very much with us.



And





Flatmate’s Day



Have a flatmate that rocks? Explore a few simple and fun ways to say thanks.

You know you owe your flatmate a lot. She’s taken the dog out for you when your shift ran late; he stood beside you with a can of roach spray in hand when your crazy ex showed up for the ninth time that weekend; and she loaned you cash to pay your cell phone bill when you ran over your minutes. Through thick and thin, your flatmate has had your back.

And now it’s time to say thank you, here’s a few ideas for you.

Say something nice. Drop a compliment out of the blue, and be sincere. Do this a handful of times a week. Otherwise, communication is only about problems.

Cook enough for both of you. If you’re cooking a meal for yourself, double up the recipe and invite your flatmate to the feast. Food is often a flash point, turn it into a positive instead.

Be reliable. Pay bills (especially rent) on time, every time. If you say you’re going to clean, make sure you do it. Don’t leave your flatmate guessing.

Be resource conscientious. Turn off lights, turn down the AC or heat when you leave, conserve water. Lower utility bills help everyone.

Get your clean on. Tidy up the communal areas – kitchen, bathroom, living room – without being asked and without being all holier-than-thou about it. This is HUGE if your roomie is the one that usually does the cleaning.

Throw some money around. Don’t fret over pennies, round your portion of the utilities up to the nearest dollar. Don’t make a big deal about it.

Throw some money around, part 2. Buy a nice coffee machine, microwave, TV – upgrade something you share. You’re gonna take it with you when you leave, go ahead and spread some joy while you’re together.

Offer to get away. It’s always nice to have some private time at home. Tell your flatmate ahead of time that you’re going to be away for a few hours or the weekend.

These are all so little work, but they make a huge difference – let your flatmate know you care!

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March 24 Birthdays




The Undertaker - 52




Peyton Manning - 41




Jim Parsons - 44




Harry Houdini - (1874 - 1926) (52)




Tommy Hilfiger - 66




Steve McQueen - (1930 - 1980) (50)




Joseph Barbera - (1911 - 2006) (95)




Star Jones - 55




Louie Anderson - 64




Nena - 57




Dougie Thomson - 67





March 24th

2003: David Lee Roth began a week-long stint filling in as a morning DJ on a Los Angeles radio station.

2001: A portion of Georgia State Route 19 in Macon, GA was named Duane Allman Boulevard near where Allman died in a motorcycle crash in 1971 & a bridge on the same highway was named the Raymond Berry Oakley III Bridge. It was also named Duane Allman Day & Raymond Berry Oakley III Day in Macon.

1991: Billy Joel performed the final concert of his tour in support of Storm Front at the Palacio De Los Deportes in Mexico City. During the four concert stand Joel drew 80,832 attendees.

1991: The Black Crowes were fired as the support act for ZZ Top for repeatedly criticizing the tour’s sponsor.

1979: The Cars peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart with their self-titled debut album which later went on to sell six million copies in the U.S.

1973: Lou Reed was bitten on his bottom by a fan that jumped onstage during a concert in Buffalo. The fan that bit Reed was thrown out & Reed finished the concert. Reed commented after the concert that the U.S. “seems to breed real animals”.

1973: Alice Cooper’s sixth studio album Billion Dollar Babies entered the U.K. Album Chart at number one.

1962: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards performed together onstage for the first time in Earling, U.K. with their band Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys.

1958: Elvis Presley reported to the Memphis Draft Board to be inducted into the U.S. Army, his serial number was 53 310 761.



Birthdays:

Dougie Thomson - Bassist for Supertramp born in 1951

[IceWizard]

25 Mar 2017



Earth Hour



Electricity has become such an enormous part of our lives that it’s become difficult for us to imagine a moment without it. Be honest: can you really imagine life without your cell phone, your TV, or your refrigerator? Can you imagine having to wash all your clothes by hand, starting a fire just to get some warm water, or going to bed when it gets dark because candlelight is not really enough to do anything properly?

You may take electricity for granted, but it wasn’t too long ago that the aforementioned situations were the norm for people all over the world. But everything has a price, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that the price of all of our lives being made easier is the well-being of the planet. And that’s why movements like Earth Hour were created—to help us all give our planet some thought every now and then.

The History of Earth Hour

In 2004, worried by scientific findings, Australia’s World Wide Fund for Nature met with an advertising agency in Sydney to “discuss ideas for engaging Australians on the issue of climate change”. Together, they coined the idea of a large scale switch off in 2006 and called it “The Big Flick” and decided to make their idea reality. The mayor of Sydney was quickly convinced of the importance of raising awareness about the amount of electricity being used and how that affected the planet, and the first ever Earth Hour was held on March 31 in Sydney, Australia at 7:30 pm.

Soon, the idea began to spread, with San Francisco being the next major city to run a “Lights Out” program in October 2007.

The event was an enormous success and received lots of positive media coverage, and by 2008, 35 countries in the world were participating on all seven continents. Between 8 and 9 pm, hundreds of cities in these 35 countries turned off their lights. Even some of the most famous landmarks participated, including the Sydney Opera House (Sydney, Australia), Empire State Building (New York City), National Monument (Jakarta, Indonesia), Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, US), Table Mountain (Cape Town, South Africa), the Colosseum (Rome, Italy), Azrieli Center (Tel Aviv, Israel), Royal Castle (Stockholm, Sweden), the CN Tower (Toronto, Canada), SM Science Discovery Center (Manila, Philippines), Petronas Towers (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), KL Tower (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Wat Arun Temple (Bangkok, Thailand), The London City Hall (London, England), and others. In 2016, the number of countries participating grew to 170. Many celebrities have expressed their support for the event, including Lionel Messi, Al Gore, Yoko Ono and Nelson Mandela.

How to Celebrate Earth Hour

The best way to celebrate Earth Hour is, of course, to participate!

You should also remember, however, that Earth Hour is not just about one hour, but about caring about our planet every other hour of every other day of the year, as well! The thousands upon thousands of Mwh of energy that are saved worldwide during Earth Hour mean nothing if we do not continue to care about the environment afterwards.

So think about what you can do on a daily basis to save energy and then do it—even little things like exchanging your regular light bulbs for more power-saving ones can make a huge difference if many people do them at once. Let the one hour that is Earth Hour inspire you to make the world a better place for the remaining 8,760 in the year!



And





Tolkien Reading Day




Although founded in 2002, the First Tolkien Reading Day wasn’t until March 25th 2003. This is because a journalist from New York enquired as to whether or not there was such an event for Tolkien in January 2002 and the society liked the idea so much they adopted it – although they didn’t have time to prepare anything for that year and postponed it.

History of Tolkien Reading Day

The society chose an important date from the book for the reading day. March 25th is the Downfall of Sauron.

In recent years The Tolkien Society have provided information packs, bookmarks and posters for schools taking part in this event. They have also provided free posters for events held by libraries and the general public taking place near to the event, rather than on the 25th.

Observances

With the popularity of the Lord of The Rings film triliogy firmly influencing the popularity of the books, Tolkien Reading Day was set up with hopes of getting even more people reading and discovering that there is much more to Tolkien than just The Lord Of the Rings.

Typical events consist of readings and discussions, but some groups re-enact scenes from the Lord of the Rings books.

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March 25 Birthdays




Elton John - 70




Sarah Jessica Parker - 52




Aretha Franklin - 75




Danica Patrick - 35




Patrick Troughton - (1920 - 1987) (67)




Marcia Cross - 55




Mina Mazzini - 70




Matthew Garber - (1956 - 1977) (21)




Jeff Healey - (1966 - 2008) (41)






March 25th

2008: Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora was arrested in Laguna Beach, CA on suspicion of drunk driving after police noticed his Hummer weaving in traffic lanes. Sambora’s blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit.

1995: Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder was rescued from a dangerous riptide after swimming off the coast of New Zealand which carried his 250 feet offshore.

1990: Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee was arrested for allegedly exposing his bottom onstage during a Motley Crue concert in Augusta, GA.

1990: Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson won a Golden Raspberry for Worst Original Song for “Bring Your Daughter…to the Slaughter” from the fifth Nightmare on Elm Street movie. Also nominated was “Pet Sematary” by The Ramones.

1986: Guns N’ Roses signed a worldwide record contract with Geffen Records after A&R executive Tom Zutaut only saw them in concert once.

1977: Bob Seger received his first Platinum album for Night Moves, his first album with The Silver Bullet Band, which later went on to sell five million copies in the U.S.

1969: John Lennon & Yoko Ono began a week long bed-in at the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel to promote world peace.

1967: The Who made their live debut in the U.S. at RKO 58th Street Theatre in New York City.

1967: Buffalo Springfield peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “For What It’s Worth” which was their first and only top ten single in the U.S.




Birthdays:

Elton John born in 1947

Jeff Healey born in 1966

[IceWizard]

26 Mar 2017



Make Up Your Own Holiday Day



One of our favorite days of the year, Make Up Your Own Holiday Day is a chance to throw away the rule book and celebrate however you like! Get together with your friends and create your own special holiday, and who knows, if it becomes popular enough, it might end up on our calendar!



And





Purple Day



Purple Day is a celebration aimed at raising worldwide awareness of epilepsy, a condition that affects over 65 million people globally. Cassidy Megan, a nine-year-old from Canada, founded Purple Day in 2008. Cassidy’s efforts were supported by the Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia (EANS). Lavender is the international color for epilepsy and is also a color that symbolises solitude. This led to purple being the color of choice for this celebration.

Anybody interested in supporting Purple Day can become an ‘Ambassador of Purple’. This role involves wearing purple and spreading awareness of epilepsy in your community and to friends and family. Alternatively, dress in purple and hold a purple-themed fund-raising event in aid of either EANS, The Anita Kaufman Foundation or any other charity supporting epilepsy awareness. Most importantly, take the time to increase your own awareness about the effects of epilepsy on people’s lives.



And




Neighbor Day



Even though the exact origins of Neighbor Day cannot be accurately traced, as the holiday seems to have popped up almost randomly in various places at various times, one thing is universally valid : Neighbor Day is all about caring. Whether you’re looking to bury the hatchet or just get to know your neighbors better, Neighbor Day is the perfect time to do so.

There are no rules written in stone as to how to celebrate Neighbor Day, so you’re free to use your imagination: throw a party, invite some neighbors over or go out with them – everything works as long as it will bring you closer to your neighbors and allow you to get to know them better.

Despite the fact that Neighbor Day lasts just a day, that doesn’t mean it should be the only day to care about your neighbors.

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March 26 Birthdays




Diana Ross - 73




Keira Knightley - 32




Steven Tyler - 69




Kenny Chesney - 49




Leonard Nimoy - (1931 - 2015) (83)




Guccio Gucci - (1881 - 1953) (71)




Robert Frost - (1874 - 1963) (88)




Tennessee Williams - (1911 - 1983) (71)




James Caan - 77




John Stockton - 55




Fran Sheehan - 67







March 26th

2002: Randy Castillo, drummer for Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue & Lita Ford died of squamous cell carcinoma at his home in Los Angeles. He was 51 years old.

1994: Soundgarden entered the Billboard 200 Album Chart at number one with Superunknown which spent one week on top of the chart & went on to sell five million copies in the U.S.

1988: Def Leppard peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Hysteria” which was their first top ten single in the U.S.

1983: Golden Earring peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Twilight Zone” which was their first and only top ten single in the U.S.

1980: The Police performed in Bombay, India, the first western rock concert in Bombay in 10 years.

1980: Van Halen released their third album Women and Children First which went on to reach number six on the Billboard 200 Album Chart & sell three million copies in the U.S.

1976: Genesis kicked off their first North American tour with Phil Collins singing for them in London, ON.

1976: Thin Lizzy released their sixth album Jailbreak which went on to become their first album to chart in the U.S. peaking at number eighteen on the Billboard 200 Album Chart & become their only Gold record in the U.S.

1965: Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman was knocked unconscious by an electrical shock from a microphone stand onstage during a concert in Odense, Denmark.



Birthdays:

Richard Tandy - Keyboardist for Electric Light Orchestra born in 1948

Steven Tyler - Singer for Aerosmith born in 1948

Fran Sheehan - Bassist for Boston born in 1949

[IceWizard]

27 Mar 2017


Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day



If you’re rocking out to classics such as “I Still Miss You Baby, But My Aim’s Gettin’ Better” or “You’re the Reason Our Kids Are So Ugly”, then chances are you’re already well on the way to celebrating Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day.



And





International Whiskey Day



Whiskey has a long and august history, being one of the most recognizable forms of distilled spirit in the world. The name for Whiskey comes from Gaelic, where it used to be called Uisce na Beatha, or “The Water of Life”. It wasn’t long before the name got shortened to Uisce (Merely “Water”) and then the pronounciation slowly changed over time from Ish-Key, to Whiskey. Thus it has remained ever since.

History of International Whiskey Day

The history of International Whiskey day is necessarily intrinsically tied to the history of Whiskey, so let’s start there.

Whiskey is the result of a distillation process, a chemical/alchemical process known as far back in history as Babylon. While we don’t know if they created a beverage quite as wonderful as modern day whiskey, it was known that the process was available to them.

All whiskey starts with a ‘mash’, a mixture of grain and water that is slowly heated to bread down the starch in it into sugars. The result of this process is then known as a wort, and is just the beginning of this amazing drinks journey. What kind of grain you use determines what kind of Whiskey you end up with.

Bourbon starts from a mash that is 51% or more corn base, though it becomes a Corn Whiskey once it reaches 81%. Malt whiskey is made from 51% malted barley, while Rye is 51% plain Rye. Malted Rye is a specialized version made from a base of Malted Rye, and Wheat Whiskey, as you might suspect, is made from Wheat. All of these are considered kinds of whiskey!

So where did International Whiskey Day come from?

Well it was first announced in 2008, and celebrated in 2009 at the Whiskey Festival in the Northern Netherlands. This was all done in honor of Michael Jackson. No, not the King of Pop, but a man well known for his writings on Whiskey. The purpose isn’t just the raising of awareness of whiskey and its charms, but also to spread awareness for Parkinson’s, a disease that Michael suffered from in his later years.

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March 27 Birthdays




Mariah Carey - 47




Fergie - 42




Quentin Tarantino - 54




Pauley Perrette - 48




Elizabeth Mitchell - 47




Gay Blackstone - 65




Tony Banks - 67









March 27th

1987: U2 performed on the rooftop of a liquor store in Los Angeles while filming the music video for “Where the Streets Have No Name”. The Los Angeles Police Department would shut down filming of the video due to traffic concerns.

1986: Sammy Hagar made his live debut singing for Van Halen at the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum in Shreveport, LA.

1984: Metallica made their live debut in the U.K. at London’s Marquee Club.

1982: Small Faces bassist Ronnie Lane entered a hospital in Florida to be treated for multiple sclerosis.

1981: Rush recorded their concert at the Montreal Forum for their second live album Exit…Stage Left which was released in October of 1981 & on video in 1982.

1979: Eric Clapton married Pattie Boyd, the ex-wife of Clapton’s friend George Harrison in Tucson, AZ. They would divorce in 1989.

1976: Gary Wright peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Dream Weaver” which was Wright’s first top ten single in the U.S.

1973: Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia was pulled over for speeding in New Jersey. Cops also discovered LSD in Garcia’s car & Garcia spent three hours in jail before being released on $2,000 bail.

1971: George Harrison peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “What is Life” which was Harrison’s second top ten single as a solo artist in the U.S.



Birthdays:

Tony Banks - Keyboardist for Genesis born in 1950

[IceWizard]

28 Mar 2017


Weed Appreciation Day

Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.
– A. A. Milne

Is there anything more aggravating then working in your garden and finding yet another sprouting of weeds after you thought you got them all? Seriously, weeds are just so incredibly annoying and you’re right to rip them out. Then afterwards you can sit on your porch and enjoy the dandelions that grow in your front yard, their bright yellow eyes turned to the sun. Weed Appreciation Day reminds you that those dandelions are weeds too, along with numerous other plants that you don’t mind growing in the yard.

History of Weed Appreciation Day

Weed Appreciation Day was established to remind people that a weed is just a plant growing where you don’t want it to grow. Blackberries are fantastic when you find them growing wild in the forest, but are perhaps less desirable when you find them growing in the middle of your rhododendron bushes. That’s basically the details of what makes a weed a weed, and there are hundreds of ‘weeds’ that are incredibly important in health, science, and culinary uses. After all, dandelion wine isn’t just a pretty name!

There’s also chickweed, which believe it or not is actually quite tasty and packed with vitamins, but most people just rip them out and throw them in the compost bin or burn them. Chicory is often considered to be a weed as well, though it’s a pretty little plant with bright blue flowers, but it’s a hugely popular drink in the south, especially in Louisiana. Certainly it’s the roots, but still, weeds are weeds only if you don’t want them where you find them!

Weed Appreciation Day reminds you to get out there and really look at your yard, and find out if perhaps what you once thought of us as a weed, is actually a wonderful new surprise living in your lawn.




And






Black Forest Cake Day



Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte is a word that is perhaps beyond the reach of most of us, a rich word with a rich history, but perhaps a bit too exotic to describe a treat we are all familiar with. And what a treat it is, rich layers of chocolate sponge cake mortared together with a flavorful whipped cream and assortment of cherries, and frosted and topped with more of the same. That’s right! It’s a Black Forest Cake, and Black Forest Cake Day celebrates this most amazing and exotic of treats.

History of Black Forest Cake Day

A true Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte is made with the rich flavorful liquor that comes from the region for which it’s named Schwarzwälder Kirsch(wasser). In the region grows a variety of tart cherries that lend the spirit its unique flavor, and in turn provide a notable and local flavor to the Black Forest Cherry-Torte. This cake certainly has a long storied history, having first appeared in Schwarzwälder (The Black Forest) in 1915, or so that’s the tale that Josef Keller told until his death in 1981. Whether his tale is true or not, what is well known is it was indelibly tied to Berlin by 1931, and has spread throughout the world to become a famous and recognizable treat.
Interestingly, there is actually a Swedish variation of this dish, consisting merely of layers of rich flavorful chocolate and whipped cream. Once this is completed the Schwarzwaldtårta is decorated with rich slivers or plates of chocolate and dusted with cocoa powder for a distinctive and delicious appearance. In spite of the shared name, it has no other relation to the Cherry-Torte mentioned above. But that doesn’t stop us from enjoying it as well on Black Forest Cake Day!

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March 28 Birthdays





Lady Gaga - 31




Reba McEntire - 62




Vince Vaughn - 47




Kate Gosselin - 42









March 28th

2010: Rush were inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. They were recognized for the songs “Closer to the Heart”, “The Spirit of Radio”, “Tom Sawyer”, “Limelight” & “Subdivisions”.

2005: Queen kicked off their first tour with Paul Rodgers of Bad Company and Free replacing Freddie Mercury on vocals at London’s Brixton Academy.

1996: Phil Collins announced that he was leaving Genesis to focus on his solo career, soundtrack work and some jazz projects.

1994: Nirvana singer & guitarist Kurt Cobain checked into the Exodus Recovery Center in Marina del Rey, CA after Dave Grohl & Krist Novoselic threatened to disband Nirvana if he didn’t enter rehab. Cobain walked out of the center three days later.

1992: Over $100,000 worth of damage was caused during an Ozzy Osbourne concert at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre in Irvine, CA after Osbourne invited the first two rows of the audience onstage. Other members of the audience took up the offer which forced the band to leave the stage.

1982: David Crosby was pulled over in Los Angeles and was arrested discovered to be driving under the influence of cocaine. Police later discovered Quaaludes, drug paraphernalia & a .45 caliber pistol in his car.

1981: Rush peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 Album Chart with their eighth studio album Moving Pictures which spent three consecutive weeks at number three. The album became their most commercially successful album in the U.S. where it sold four million copies.

1970: John Lennon peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 singles Chart with “Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)” which was Lennon’s first top ten single as a solo artist in the U.S.

1958: Eddie Cochran recorded “Summertime Blues”, which was later covered by artists such as Blue Cheer, The Who & Rush.



Birthdays:

John Evan - Keyboardist for Jethro Tull born in 1948

[IceWizard]

29 Mar 2017



Manatee Appreciation Day



Manatees are aquatic mammals known for their immense size and jowly appearance. Manatees might not make the list of cutest animals, but enough manatee enthusiasts exist for there to be a Manatee Appreciation Day.

Manatee Appreciation Day is devoted to raising awareness about these quirky creatures. Unfortunately, manatees are endangered. Although hunting manatees is usually illegal, they continue to be poached for their meat and hide. Also, manatees are often fatally injured in collisions with boats. It is important to increase manatee awareness so that these fascinating animals will continue to exist in the future.

Manatee Appreciation Day events usually take place in areas with large manatee populations, such as Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean. Zoos and marine biology centres may offer special manatee-related programming on Manatee Appreciation Day. You can celebrate Manatee Appreciation Day anywhere by researching manatees, starting your own awareness campaign, or donating to manatee conservation programs.


And





Smoke and Mirrors Day



Deceit! Deception! Celebrate these and all other types of trickery with Smoke And Mirrors Day, the festival dedicated to the art of fraudulent cunning.

The phrase “It’s all smoke and mirrors’ refers to the way in which magicians use all manner of distraction to make sure the audience fails to see what’s really going on. The more complex the artifice, the more successfully the magician will get away with it. The most obvious example of smoke and mirrors is ‘Legalese’, that incredibly convoluted language that lawyers use to make sure that no-one else understands what’s happening. Politicians have been known to try that sort of thing too.

How best to celebrate this auspicious day? Go back to its roots! Try a bit of magic. There are lots of easy magic tricks that will amaze your friends. Or, just see how quickly you can make a piece of cake disappear!

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March 29 Birthdays



Scott Wilson - 75





Sam Walton - (1918 - 1992) (74)




Lucy Lawless - 49




Elle Macpherson - 53




John Tyler - (1790 - 1862) (71)




Cy Young - (1867 - 1955) (88)




Brendan Gleeson - 62








March 29th

2005: Neil Young underwent surgery at a New York hospital to treat a brain aneurysm. Young first realized something was wrong when his vision became blurry after attending the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony weeks earlier.

1982: Iron Maiden released their third studio album, The Number of the Beast, their first album with Bruce Dickinson singing for them. It has been cited as one of the most influential heavy metal albums of all time.

1980: Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon spent its 303rd consecutive week on the Billboard 200 Album Chart, breaking the record set by Carole King’s Tapestry for longest stay on the Billboard 200.

1979: Supertramp released their sixth album Breakfast in America which went on to become their most successful album selling four million copies in the U.S. & reaching number one on the Billboard 200 Album Chart for six weeks.

1978: David Bowie kicked off the Low/Heroes World Tour at the San Diego Sports Arena.

1975: Led Zeppelin had all six of their albums in the Billboard 200 Album Chart. Physical Graffiti was still at number one.

1975: Sugarloaf peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You” which was their second and final top ten single in the U.S.

1973: Shortly after having a hit with Shel Silverstein’s “The Cover of the Rolling Stone”, Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show were on the cover of Rolling Stone in caricature.

1967: The Beatles recorded “With a Little Help from My Friends” at Abbey Road Studios in London.



Birthdays:

Chad Allan - Guitarist for The Guess Who born in 1943
Terry Jacks born in 1944
Bobby Kimball - Singer for Toto born in 1947
Perry Farrell - Singer for Jane’s Addiction born in 1959

[IceWizard]

30 Mar 2017



Doctors' Day



It’s easy to forget just how important, valuable and necessary good doctors are – that is, until you get ill or sustain am injury. Doctors Day puts hard-working doctors in the spotlight, and encourages us to be considerate of the long hours they work, their compassion, and the effort they put into practicing medicine.



And





National Pencil Day



With so many types of pens, from the everyday biro to the decadent fountain and the multipurpose Sharpie, the humble pencil is often overlooked. That’s why Pencil Day is here to remind us just how amazing a stick of graphite encased in a tube of wood can be.

Sketching in pencil is an incredibly expressive, therapeutic and fun activity. Whether you’re an experienced illustrator or think you don’t have a single creative bone in your body, take five minutes to have a quick doodling session and see where your imagination takes you. With a pencil you can remove your mistake with an eraser, or simply rub it with your thumb to create a shaded area or interesting effect. Then when you’re done, there are few things more satisfying than placing the pencil behind your ear and parading around like a fifties New York journalist (make sure to roll up your sleeves too).

Oh, and if you want to be particularly geeky (like us), check out this Pencil Grading Scales Explained article!

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March 30 Birthdays




Vincent van Gogh - (1853 - 1890 (37)




Eric Clapton - 72




MC Hammer - 55





Piers Morgan - 52




Norah Jones - 38




Richard Ray Rawlings - 48




Tracy Chapman - 52





Warren Beatty - 80








March 30th

2006: Courtney Love sold 25% of her stake in Nirvana’s publishing rights to Larry Mestel of Primary Wave Music Publishing for $50 million.

2000: Mick Jagger visited his old school, Dartford Grammar School to open Mick Jagger Centre, dedicated to the arts & music programs at the school. Jagger was quoted as saying he had spent the worst years of his life at the school.

1992: R.E.M. entered Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, NY to begin recording their eighth studio album Automatic for the People.

1984:[/b] Greg Lake left Asia to be replaced by the bassist he initially replaced, John Wetton.

1978: The Clash’s bassist Paul Simonon & drummer Topper Headon were arrested after shooting racing pigeons from the roof of Chalk Farm Studios in London. Four police cars & a helicopter were required to make the arrest. They were fined $1,360.

1975: Jeff Beck’s first solo album Blow by Blow was released. The album went on to receive praise both from rock fans & jazz fans & sell over a million copies in the U.S.

1974: The Ramones made their live debut at Performance Studio in New York City.

1974: Paul McCartney & Wings peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Jet” which was their fifth top ten single in the U.S.

1967: During Jimi Hendrix’s appearance on the BBC’s Top of the Pops, a technician mistakenly cued Alan Price’s “Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear” instead of Hendrix’s “Purple Haze”. Hendrix replied “I don’t know the words to that one man.”



Birthdays:

Graeme Edge - Drummer for The Moody Blues born in 1941

Eric Clapton born in 1945

James Mangrum - Singer for Black Oak Arkansas born in 1948

Dave Ball - Guitarist for Procol Harum born in 1950

[Batgirl]

OMG, Eric Clapton is 72, and MC Hammer is 55!!! And wasn't Nora Jones the young chanteuse du jour just yesterday? Time sure does fly. Glad to see Clapton is still going, especially considering all the legends of his era we are losing.

[IceWizard]

31 Mar 2017



Crayola Crayon Day



Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet…no, we’re not talking about a rainbow, but rather just some of the 400 different shades of crayon colors Crayola has produced since 1903! What a perfect opportunity to celebrate its bright and colorful addition to the world with Crayola Crayon Day!

Crayola began its life as a company when cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith took over a pigment business in 1885 that Edwin’s father owned. Since then, they have produced a core set of 120 crayon colors; but they have also come out with many unique sets; including metallic colored crayons, gem tones colors, and even scented ones.

So, why not let your inner child out on Crayola Crayon Day?

Find a coloring book and a box of Crayola crayons, and get to work?

It’s a therapeutic and enjoyable way to pass some time, and you can even hang your finished picture on your fridge when you’re done!


Crayola is retiring one of its iconic colors on National Crayon Day


And





World Backup Day



Have you backed up your data recently? Every day people, businesses, even games lose huge amounts of valuable data because they fail to follow this one basic procedure. World Backup Day is set aside as a reminder to back up your files, even if it’s once a year! A backup is a reserve copy of all the files you’d be loathe to use. There’s nothing more traumatizing than having losing your phone, or having your hard drive crash, and having hundreds of valuable and irreplaceable documents or photos suddenly gone beyond retrieval.

No matter how secure or safe you feel your data and equipment is, it’s important to back up your files. 30% of people don’t have any way to save their important files in the event that tragedy strikes. In our electronic based world, there are hundreds of ways to suddenly have things go terribly awry. 29% of all disasters are caused by accidents, costing valuable time and money as the resources they affected are lost forever. You may feel your computer is safe, but 1 in 10 of all computers, including household and business computers, are infected with a virus that may suddenly cause all of your data to be gone beyond retrieval.

“But my phone is always on me!” I hear you say! Wonderful! That’ll make it easier for you to be one of the 113 phones stolen every minute, each day. In this modern digital world, many of us live from our phones. Whether it’s for business, or just personal use, these electronic assistants often contain gigs of valuable documents, pictures, videos, and music. Do you really want to chance losing all of that when backup options are so easy and available?

“Easy? How do I backup my files and protect myself?” There ya go! Now we’re asking the right questions! There are a myriad of ways you can use to backup your files, most phones are connected to some form of backup system. iPhones are tied directly into iTunes, which can back up all of your valuable data, you just need to hook that thing up to your computer and update the files daily! You can even do it as part of charging, just plug it in to your computer, set it to backup, and it’ll go about the process automatically while it takes a charge.

Android phones are intrinsically tied to Google, and with the availability of Google Docs and the Google backup, it’ll tie all of your data in to your profile, uploading it to a secure location while allowing you to choose which ones to share! Google Docs can also be used to store all of your valuable files online! The bonus here is that from google docs you can access your files from any computer, saving you from having to wait for your system to be back up before you get those important files back!

Another option is open that is the ‘all inclusive’ option. If you’d prefer to back up everything instead of just bits and pieces, there are tons of places online that will give you reviews of dozens of options for full backup services. Take some time to cruise through them and decide which one is right for you. Remember, if the only copy you have of your important files is all in one place, it only takes one accident, one small disaster for you to lose them all. So take the time to backup your files, and stop yourself from becoming one of this year’s April’s Fools.

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March 31 Birthdays




Johann Sebastian Bach - (1685 - 1750) (65)




Ewan McGregor - 46




Angus Young - 62




Christopher Walken - 74




Cesar Chavez - (1927 - 1993) (66)




Al Gore - 68




Rhea Perlman - 69




Shirley Jones - 83






March 31st

2009: The Osbournes: Reloaded premiered on Fox & was cancelled after only one episode aired.

1995: Lance Cunningham tried to rush the stage and stab Jimmy Page at a Page and Plant concert at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, MI. Cunningham was stopped by two security guards & after being arrested, told police he wanted to kill Page because he thought Led Zeppelin’s music contained satanic messages.

1984: Motley Crue peaked at number seventeen on the Billboard 200 Album Chart with Shout at the Devil which went on to be certified four times Platinum in the U.S.

1982: The Doobie Brothers announced that they were breaking up. They reunited in 1987 & still continue to tour to this day.

1977: Elvis Presley no-showed a concert in Baton Rouge, LA. The opening acts had performed & Presley was admitted to the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, diagnosed with fatigue & intestinal flu.

1972: The Official Beatles Fan Club closed. Freda Norris, who ran the club, commented that the membership in 1965 was at 80,000 & now membership was at 11,000.

1969: George and Patti Harrison were fined 250 pounds for marijuana possession in Surrey, U.K. They were arrested on Paul McCartney’s wedding day.

1967: Jimi Hendrix set fire to his guitar onstage for the first time during a concert at the Astoria in London. Hendrix burnt his hands during the stunt & was taken to a hospital.

1958: Chuck Berry released “Johnny B. Goode”, which Berry wrote as a rock and roll version of the American dream. The song has since gone on to be covered by artists ranging from AC/DC and Judas Priest to The Beach Boys and Elvis Presley.



Birthdays:

Mick Ralphs - Guitarist for Mott the Hoople and Bad Company born in 1944

Angus Young - Guitarist for AC/DC born in 1955

[Linville]

Great Post As Usual, IceMan !