Today is...

[IceWizard]

11 Aug 2017


National Son and Daughter Day



Son and Daughter Day is the perfect opportunity to set aside some time to reflect on the joy that children bring to your life. Whether sons and daughters are young or old, teenagers or toddlers, the bond between parent and child is like no other on earth and this annual celebration ensures the miracle of bringing new life into the world is never forgotten. Though the origins of Son and Daughter Day are unknown, it is celebrated widely across the world simply by parents spending time with their children and letting them know how special they are to them. The best gift to give on Son and Daughter Day is the gift of time. If your children are still living at home, take some time out of your schedule to truly enjoy their company. If your children have moved away, make sure they return so you can spend quality family time together.


And




Ingersoll Day



Robert Green Ingersoll was a famous American orator, who lived and became famous during the nineteenth century. Ingersoll Day celebrates his contributions to society, which he made through passionate campaigning for womens’ and minority rights.


And


National Play In The Sand Day



The whisper of wind over your skin as you dig into the fine sand brings back memories for many of us. Maybe it was just as a child playing in a sandbox at the park, or at the beach on a vacation. Either way, or in whatever way you remember your experiences with that lovely little grain that you moved by the billions, this day is all about Playing in the Sand!

History of Play in the Sand Day

Originally it was about making artistic sandcastles, and soft sculptures out of sand and water, but now it encompasses anything you do in the sand. Many major beaches around the world hold contests for the best artistic works. Busts of famous figures, immense sand castles one can walk around and not see over, to intricately molded and shaped designs that take your breath away. Many beaches have easy access to food, drink and fun near them, but it isn’t truly necessary. Bring some small shovels, a couple of pails, a few more people and enjoy the creativity as it spawns from you. Build a moat around your stuff, and fill it with water. Build sand beds so your comfort is perfected. Set up a small building, put the smallest child in and make them the ruler of the new sand kingdom!

---

---

---

---

August 11 Birthdays




Hulk Hogan - 64




Joe Rogan - 50




Ian McDiarmid - 73




Jim Kale - 74




Richie Ramone - 60









August 11th

2002: Bruce Springsteen reached number one on the Billboard 200 Album Chart for the sixth time with The Rising which spent two weeks on top of the chart. The album was Springsteen’s first album with the E Street Band in eighteen years & sold approximately 520,000 copies in its first week of release.

1999: Kiss received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1993: Salman Rushdie, author of the controversial book The Satanic Verses joined U2 onstage during their concert at Wembley Stadium in London.

1989: Bruce Springsteen made an appearance at Ringo Starr’s concert at the Garden States Center in Homdel, NJ for four songs: “Get Back”, “Long Tall Sally”, “Photograph” and “With a Little Help from My Friends”.

1979: The Knack reached the top of the Billboard 200 Album Chart for the first and only time with their debut album Get The Knack which spent five weeks on top.

1976: Keith Moon was hospitalized in Miami after he collapsed while having a breakdown after he trashed his hotel room at the Fountainbleau Hotel.

1973: After seeing Kiss perform at the Hotel Diplomat in New York, Bill Aucoin offered his managerial services and promised them a record deal, which they shortly received with Casablanca Records.

1966: John Lennon apologized at a press conference in Chicago for his comment that “The Beatles are more popular than Jesus”.

1964: At the Railway Hotel in Harrow, U.K., The Who (then known as The High Numbers) began their set without Roger Daltrey who was involved in a fistfight outside with his father-in-law. Daltrey appeared onstage after the fight.




Birthdays:

Jim Kale - Bassist for The Guess Who born in 1943

Denis Payton - Saxophonist for The Dave Clark Five born in 1943

Eric Carmen - Singer for The Raspberries born in 1949

Richie Ramone - Drummer for The Ramones born in 1957

[IceWizard]

12 Aug 2017


National Vinyl Record Day



Vinyl Record Day is organised by (you guessed it) the Vinyl Record Day Company – a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to recognising the preserving vinyl music, its culture, art and sound. Whilst you could dust off some old vinyl records, you may be surprised to find many modern artists producing music in vinyl format to provide a richer, more immersive experience.


And




World Elephant Day



They’re intelligent. They’re family-oriented. They have great memories. They are capable of feeling a wide range of deep emotions, from intense grief to joy bordering on elation, as well as empathy and stunning self-awareness. They create complex, supportive societies much like our own. Taking into consideration all of that and much, much more, what’s not to love about elephants? Still, countless elephants are brutally killed every year for their ivory by greedy poachers who then leave their carcasses to rot in the sun. As Graydon Carter, Editor of Vanity Fair, put it:

We admire elephants in part because they demonstrate what we consider the finest human traits (…) but the way we treat them puts on display the very worst of human behavior.

World Elephant Day is the perfect time to find out more about these amazing animals and what we can do to preserve and protect them so they do not go the way of the mammoth.

The History of World Elephant Day

World Elephant Day was created in 2011 by two Canadian filmmaker Patricia Sims and Thailand’s Elephant Reintroduction Foundation and was first celebrated on August 12, 2012. The initiative was greatly supported by film star William Shatner who narrated the documentary Return to the Forest, a fascinating 30-minute film about the reintroduction of captive Asian elephants to the wild. Currently, the demand for ivory is the biggest in China, with the price of ivory often exceeding the price of gold, something that makes elephants bigger targets than ever. Habitation loss is also a danger to the world’s elephant population as it deprives elephants of the hundreds of pounds of food they need every day, making it more difficult for them to breed and making it easier for poachers to track them down. Circuses and tourism are also serious threats to the animals’ well-being. Luckily, an increasing number of both celebrities and politicians have become interested in the cause, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Ashley Judd and President Barack Obama.

---

---

---

---

August 12 Birthdays




Sir Mix-a-Lot - 54




Wednesday 13 - 41




Mark Knopfler - 68









August 12th

1999: Alice Cooper’s music publisher reached an out of court settlement with Kiss’ music publisher over a claim that Kiss’ song “Dreamin’” sounded a little too close to Alice Cooper’s breakthrough hit “I’m Eighteen”.

1994: Woodstock ’94 kicked off in Saugerties, NY. The three day festival included performances by Aerosmith, the Allman Brothers Band, The Band, Joe Cocker, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Metallica, Todd Rundgren, Santana & Traffic.

1994: Heart began a five night stand at the Backstage Club in Seattle to record their acoustic album The Road Home which was released the following year.

1993: Neil Young kicked off the North American leg of his tour at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City, SD. Young was backed by Booker T & the MG’s on this tour & the tour would feature opening acts such as Soundgarden & Pearl Jam.

1989: The two day Moscow Music Peace Festival kicked off at Lenin Stadium to promote fighting drug abuse in Russia & the U.S. Artists on the bill included Bon Jovi, Cinderella, Motley Crue, Ozzy Osbourne, the Scorpions and Skid Row.

1989: Great White peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with their cover of Ian Hunter’s “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” which was their only top ten single in the U.S.

1972: Alice Cooper reached the top of the U.K. Singles Chart with “School’s Out” which spent three weeks on top of the chart. It was Cooper’s only number one single in the U.K.

1968: John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page & Robert Plant met each other for the first time for a rehearsal. The first song they played was “Train Kept A-Rollin’”.

1967: Fleetwood Mac made their live debut at London’s National Jazz & Blues Festival. The festival’s headliners were Donavan and Pink Floyd.




Birthdays:

Mark Knopfler - Singer & guitarist for Dire Straits born in 1949

Pat Metheny born in 1954

[IceWizard]

13 Aug 2017


National Filet Mignon Day

”When you’re a failure in Hollywood, that’s like starving to death outside a banquet hall, with smells of Filet Mignon driving you crazy.”
~ Marilyn Monroe

There is a cut of meat that is the very definition of luxury and decadence, one that falls from the lips of the common people and the rich debutante royalty of Hollywood in equal measure. Filet Mignon is French for “dainty fillet” and first found its way into the world in the 1906 book ”The Four Million”. Filet Minion Day celebrates the history of this steak and the delicious role it has played in exquisite meals.

History of Filet Mignon Day

Tenderloin. The very word implies a rich and succulent meal that absolutely melts on the tongue, but even in this most perfect cut of meat, there is a portion that is unquestionably the best. This portion is the fabled Filet Mignon. This delicious cut is served in 4 to 8oz portions and comes prepared in one of three varieties, seared in a pan, grilled over coals or the most famous, wrapped in bacon. The bacon is typically added to enrich the piece with fat, as Filet Mignon tends to leanness.

Even though it comes from the tenderloin, there are still multiple cuts of Filet Mignon one can choose to indulge in. The prime cut is the most popular and is available from any form of cattle, the Angus Cut, however, comes specifically from vegetarian fed beef and is far and away one of the best forms of beef available. If you’re truly feeling decadent, you can purchase a 32oz whole Filet Mignon Roast. It may set you back about $65 a pound (That’s $130) but it’ll be worth every succulent bite.


And




International Lefthanders Day



From scissors to knives, Left Handers, or Southpaws, are the brunt of jokes all year long for various different things. But this is the day to ignore that, and bring awareness to all the right handed folk around the globe in celebration of Left Handers Day, after all while right handed people operate in the left side of the brain, left handed people sure the right side. Therefore, only left handed people are in their right mind.

History of Left Handers Day

Celebrating it’s first year recognized in 1976, Lefthanders International helped raise awareness of the difficulties of being left handed. Being accused of witchcraft in the 1600s for just using one hand more than the other, was only the beginning. With only 10 percent of the population being left handed, various items are more expensive than their right handed counterparts. Objects like scissors, knives and even school desks can see a mark up of almost 75 percent more for left handed individuals, while golf clubs see as much as a 200 percent increase dependent on brand.

[IceWizard]

14 Aug 2017


Social Security Day



Wherever we are and whatever we do we’re a small part of a greater society and there’s no better indicator of our togetherness than a social security system, which is why we should celebrate Social Security Day.

Anyone can fall on hard times, or have a period during which a little help doesn’t go amiss, which is why these support systems exist. A good way to celebrate Social Security Day is to think about the more unfortunate members of society and do something for them.

Cooking a traybake or a big stew and taking it to a soup kitchen is one good idea. Another good idea is to volunteer for a shift in that same kitchen. Send the kids out to mow the lawn of an elderly or infirm neighbor, or have a yard sale and donate the proceeds to a homeless charity. Have fun, but be generous as well.


And




National Creamsicle Day



A soft flavor that kids the world over have discovered to sate the heat and give energy to them during the oppressive summer months. That first bite seems to overpower the taste buds, giving a hint that even more surprises await within the frozen delight, this is a day of celebration – Creamsicle Day!

History of Creamsicle Day

Originally created b Frank Eppperson in 1905, this industrious, and inventive 11 year old experimented with putting fruit juice around vanilla ice cream. The original ‘Epsicle’, which later became known as a Popsicle, creamsicle and even dreamsicle, were done with just the orange juice outside. However now you can find them in a myriad of flavors, from orange to blue raspberry, lime, grape, cherry and even blueberry! This cold delight has been a staple of the summertime ice cream truck since they started moving around, and served at various warm locations since they were spread around as a treat.

People have been going around trying all sorts of creamsicles from different areas and locales. Apparently the ones served on Long Island are less about the orange as they are the strong vanilla, while in Florida’s Palm Beach you get a small amount of vanilla flavor and a crazy amount of orange.

---

---

---

---

August 14 Birthdays




Halle Berry - 51




Magic Johnson - 58




Steve Martin - 72




Susan Olsen - 56




Mila Kunis - 34




David Crosby - 75










August 14th

2008: Jackson Browne sued Republican Party presidential candidate John McCain and the Republican National Committee over unauthorized use of his song “Running on Empty” in a McCain campaign commercial in Ohio.

2004: Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts announced that he was being treated for throat cancer.

2003: The Northeast Blackout of 2003 caused Bob Dylan, The Stooges & the Aerosmith/Kiss co-headlining tour to cancel tonight’s scheduled concerts.

1999: Former Van Halen and Extreme singer Gary Cherone received the Courage Award from the American Life League for his stance against abortion.

1993: Freddie Mercury posthumously reached number one on the U.K. Singles Chart for the first and only time as a solo artist with “Living on My Own” which spent two weeks on top of the chart.

1974: Neil Peart made his live debut as Rush’s drummer at a concert at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh opening for Uriah Heep & Manfred Mann’s Earth Band.

1971: Rod Stewart released “Maggie May” which went on to become his first number one single in the U.S.

1970: Stephen Stills was arrested for possession of cocaine and barbiturates after being found crawling in a motel hallway in La Jolla, CA.

1966: The Beatles played the first rock concert held at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium before 24,000 people.



Birthdays:

David Crosby born in 1941

[IceWizard]

15 Aug 2017


Acadian Day



Most people assume that all Canadians are just ‘Canadian’, and that the French spoken by the people there is the same as any French. Such is not the case, however! In fact, Canada didn’t use to be one colony, but two, and one of those was the Acadian region. Acadian Day celebrates these people and the culture they represent to this very day.

History of Acadian Day

Acadia consisted of what is now Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, and included areas of Quebec and Maine. Acadia was a separate colony from that which eventually came to form Canada (until it got absorbed) and even developed their own dialect of French! In fact, there are remnants of 17th Century French that no longer exist anywhere but in books and the language of those who still speak the Acadian regional dialect!

Most people know about Louisiana and the Cajun culture that comes from there, what most people don’t know is that the Cajun’s roots lie in Acadian refugees escaping the British when they conquered Acadia in 1710. The next 45 years were contentious and when the Acadians were found fighting the British alongside the French massive deportations began. Of the 11,500 Acadians who were deported, many of them found their way to Louisiana.

The rest of them returned to France, and from there many of them came back to either Louisiana or to New Brunswick since they were not allowed to reclaim their lands in Nova Scotia. Through these trials and history the Acadian people persevered, and now Acadian Day celebrates their history, culture, and heritage.


And




National Relaxation Day



Slow down… breath, and relax. Relaxation Day is all about winding down and just taking it easy. If you’re lucky enough to have the day off work, enjoy a quiet morning watching TV from the sofa, and perhaps consider some light gardening in the afternoon – all in the spirit of relaxing!

---

---

---

---

August 15 Birthdays




Jennifer Lawrence - 27




Ben Affleck - 45




Napoleon Bonaparte -  (1769 - 1821) (51)




Julia Child - (1912 - 2004) (91)




Anthony Anderson - 47




Debra Messing - 49




Anne, Princess Royal - 67








August 15th

2001: Peter Frampton made a guest appearance on Family Guy. When Death visited Frampton’s house, Frampton said Death should be at Keith Richards’ house, which was a joke pitched by Frampton himself.

2000: Iman gave birth to her gave birth to her first child with David Bowie, a daughter named Alexandria Zahra Jones.

1997: Tony Nicole Tony Records filed a lawsuit against Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley for alleged intentional interference with Peter Criss’ contract with the label. The lawsuit claimed Simmons & Stanley convinced Criss to break his contract with the label.

1987: Sammy Hagar peaked at number fourteen on the Billboard 200 Album Chart with I Never Said Goodbye which was the only solo album Hagar released when he was in Van Halen.

1987: Keith Richards entered Le Studio in Montreal to begin work on his debut solo album Talk is Cheap which would be released in October of 1988.

1983: Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone had a four hour emergency brain surgery to remove blood clots after being kicked in the head repeatedly in a fight. The Ramones would name their next album Too Tough to Die in his honor.

1981: Pat Benatar reached number one on the Billboard 200 Album Chart for the first and only time with Precious Time which spent one week on top of the chart.

1980: George Harrison published his first book I Me Mine which was a collection of song lyrics and reflections on his religious beliefs.

1969: The first Woodstock Festival kicked off in White Lake, NY. It was attended by over 400,000 concertgoers & featured acts such as Richie Havens, Joan Baez, Santana, the Grateful Dead, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Mountain, Joe Cocker, The Band, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young & Jimi Hendrix.




Birthdays:

Pete York - Drummer for the Spencer Davis Group born in 1942

Jimmy Webb - Songwriter born in 1946

Tommy Aldridge - Drummer for Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake & Thin Lizzy born in 1950

[IceWizard]

16 Aug 2017


Ecological Debt Day



Ecological Debt Day is a day intended to remind people of the impact of a modern life-style on the planet. It marks the point in each Gregorian calendar year where human consumption of natural resources exceeds the earth’s ability to replace those resources that year. At a sustainable rate of consumption, Ecological Debt Day would fall at the end of each calendar year.

Calculating all the resources available on earth, and the actual resources used, is, of course, an inexact science, so the precise placement of this Day should be taken with a pinch of salt. However, it serves as a useful reminder that humans are living beyond their means.

The Day, also known as Earth Overshoot Day, is a good time to hold conservation campaigns, implement and advertise more eco-friendly ways of life, and generally work towards sustainable living. Celebrate by finding a local environmental issue and getting your community to rally behind it.


And




Airborne Day



Airborne Day is a chance to pay tribute to the courage and dedication of airborne members of the Armed Forces. The special day has been marked every year since 1997, when it was created by American President George W Bush.

The date chosen for the occasion was the anniversary of the first official US Army parachute jump in 1940. Forty-eight volunteers, who were all members of the Parachute Test Platoon, carried out a successful jump in Georgia – showing the way forward to hundreds of thousands of paratroopers who later followed in their footsteps.

Each year on Airborne Day, a ceremony is held at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, which is the home of the 82nd Airborne Division. There are also services in other parts of the US and paratroopers have marked the occasion in Afghanistan. If there isn’t a service in your area, you can still mark the day by holding a minute’s silence.

---

---

---

---

August 16 Birthdays




Madonna - 59




Steve Carell - 55




Jase Robertson - 48










August 16th


2005:  The reality television show Tommy Lee Goes to College premiered on NBC.  The show featured Lee attending the University of Nebraska and attempting to fit in.

1994:  New Orleans Municipal Judge John Shea dismissed Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder’s charges of public drunkenness & disturbing the peace from the previous November.  Vedder was out with Chicago White Sox pitcher Jack McDowell at a bar in New Orleans’ French Quarter.

1991:  Aerosmith re-signed with Columbia Records for a four album deal which came into effect in 1995 as they were still under contract with Geffen Records at the time.  The deal gave them a $10 million advance per album and 22% of royalties for album sales.

1991:  Van Halen kicked off their tour in support of For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge at the Lakewood Amphitheater in Atlanta.  Alice in Chains was the opening act on this tour.

1986:  Def Leppard performed their first concert in the U.K. since drummer Rick Allen lost his arm in a car accident at the Monsters of Rock festival.  The headliner was Ozzy Osbourne and other acts on the bill included the Scorpions and Motorhead.

1986:  David Lee Roth kicked off his first solo tour at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, VA.

1980:  The first Monsters of Rock festival was held in the U.K. at Castle Donington.  The festival was headlined by Rainbow and also featured Judas Priest, the Scorpions and April Wine.

1977:  Elvis Presley was found dead lying on the floor of his bathroom at Graceland.  The official cause of death was heart failure.  He was 42 years old.

1975:  Peter Gabriel announced his departure as the singer of Genesis to start a solo career.  Gabriel’s replacement would be drummer Phil Collins.




Birthdays:

Barry Hay - Singer for Golden Earring born in 1948

Scott Asheton - Drummer for The Stooges born in 1949

[IceWizard]

17 Aug 2017


Get Smart About Credit Day



It haunts and affects every aspect of our daily living, whether you’re looking to get a loan for a car or house, and these days even if you’re applying for employment, your credit score can have incredibly negative effects on your life. Get Smart About Credit Day encourages you to take control of this very important aspect of your life and learn how to manage it properly. There will come a day when it may be incredibly important that you maintain a proper credit score, and be able to hold your head high when your accounts are checked.

History of Get Smart About Credit Day

Get Smart About Credit Day was established by the ABA (American Bankers Association) to help encourage young people to get a handle on their credit from the very beginning. By educating people on the forms of credit and how to properly increase, manage, and protect your credit score, they ensure that the coming generation will have smart investors who are able to improve their lot in life without being buried in debt.

To shed some light on the severity of the situation, one need only look at the average American household and the debt that they hold. It is not at all uncommon for American households to have over $15k in credit card debt alone, not including student loans ($49k), auto loans ($28k) and homes that often are in the range of $170-$175k.

Every year this debt only continues to rise, and that’s why it became imperative that the ABA begin educating people everywhere on how to protect themselves from the destructive force that is financial debt. Presentations and instructional documents on how to ensure that families have a secure financial future are their stock and trade. Get Smart About Credit Day is your opportunity to join this movement and get educated on securing your credit for the future.


And




Black Cat Appreciation Day



Because of superstitious beliefs in some cultures, black cats are sometimes associated with bad luck and, sadly, are more likely to be put to sleep or wait a long time to be adopted from shelters. Black Cat Appreciation Day was launched to show people that a black cat could be the perfect cat for them, and help raise awareness about black cats in general.

If you’ve been looking for a rescue cat yourself, why not consider a black cat? Not only are the superstitions about them bringing bad luck completely untrue, but you might find a black cat to be a fantastic feline companion for you! On Black Cat Appreciation Day, a fun way to celebrate, if you own a black cat, is to take photos with your pet to share and spread awareness about the day on social media. Children can join in by drawing pictures of black cats.

---

---

---

---

August 17 Birthdays




Robert De Niro - 74




Taissa Farmiga - 23




Donnie Wahlberg - 48




Sean Penn - 57




Davy Crockett - (1786 - 1836) (49)




Giuliana Rancic - 43




Belinda Carlisle - 59








August 17th


2004: Chevrolet ended its 15 year association with Bob Seger whose song “Like A Rock” had been used in their commercials for its Silverado truck.

1999: Led Zeppelin topped a chart of a different kind, Britain’s most bootlegged musicians with 384 bootleg titles seized over the past 25 years.

1998: Carlos Santana was honored with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

1991: AC/DC headlined the Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington in the U.K. on a bill that included Metallica, Motley Crue, Queensryche & The Black Crowes. This was the first & only time in the festival’s history that every band on the bill had a Platinum album in the U.S.

1991: Nirvana filmed the music video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in Culver City, CA. The video cost less than $50,000 to make & led MTV to favor alternative bands in place of pop metal bands.

1989: Pete Townshend smashed his hand during a Who concert at the Tacoma Dome, doing a windmill guitar riff during “Won’t Get Fooled Again”. After the concert Townshend was treated at Tacoma’s St. Joseph Hospital with cuts on his finger & palm.

1985: ZZ Top headlined the Monster of Rock festival at Castle Donington in the U.K. Other acts on the bill included Bon Jovi, Metallica & Ratt.

1974: Eric Clapton reached number one on the Billboard 200 Album Chart for the first time with his second solo album 461 Ocean Boulevard which spent four weeks on top of the chart.

1966: The Beatles created more controversy during a press conference in Toronto when John Lennon sided with American draft dodgers that moved to Canada rather than go to war in Vietnam.




Birthdays:

Sib Hashian - Drummer for Boston born in 1949

Gilby Clarke - Guitarist for Guns N’ Roses born in 1962

[IceWizard]

18 Aug 2017


Mail Order Catalog Day



Although Benjamin Franklin has a good claim to be the world’s first mail order entrepreneur, it is the anniversary of the first Montogomery Ward catalogue of 1872 that has provided the date for Mail Order Catalog Day. Over the intervening years, it grew from a single page of products to a monster capable of striking fear into the stoutest of postal workers!

Alas, the Montgomery Ward behemoth is no longer with us, having faded away in 1985, but stalwarts such as Sears still carry the torch, whilst the catalogue with the longest run to date, the Hammacher Schlemmer, still plies tools and building materials (no doubt including torches, should Sears ever drop theirs).

Celebrate the day in style by signing up for a few mail order catalogues and ordering some goodies. Running shoes are a great place to start, especially if your postman is not of a forgiving nature.


And




Serendipity Day



Serendipity is the term for a “happy accident” or a “pleasant surprise.” Thus, Serendipity Day encourages people to look for and notice those unexpected good things that are always out there, if we have the eyes to see them. In fact, the creators of this holiday believe that serendipity is no accident at all, but an attitude or a lifestyle in which you are always reaching for those unexpected things and expecting happy surprises to occur.

I know I got excited by etymologies just a few days ago (see Chauvin Day), but bear with me again. I learned something new and I found it fascinating!

The word serendipity was coined in the mid 1700s by a man named Horace Walpole. In a letter to a friend, he explained how he had created the term from a Persian fairy tale known in English as The Three Princes of Serendip. The story tells of three princes who were banished from the kingdom of Serendip (another term for Sri Lanka) in order to prove their worth. As they wander the world, “serendipitous” moments occur to them time after time, in a rather unbelievable amount, much like some children’s stories, where they just happen to run across the perfect place or the clue to solve the mystery, or old, corny superhero movies, where they just happen to have the antidote lying around.

In other words, it seems like Walpole first created the word serendipity as some mild ridicule of these “happy accidents” and now the term is a favorite inspirational line everywhere: “seek serendipity!”

---

---

---

---

August 18 Birthdays




Patrick Swayze - (1952 - 2009) (57)




Edward Norton - 48




Christian Slater - 48




Roberto Clemente - (1934 - 1972) (38)




Robert Redford - 81




Miesha Tate - 31




Meriwether Lewis - (1774 - 1809) (35)








August 18th


1997: The Rolling Stones drove to a press conference at the Brooklyn Bridge in a 1955 Cadillac to announce their tour in support of Bridges to Babylon.

1992: Courtney Love gave birth to her only child with Nirvana singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain. They had a daughter named Frances Bean.

1990: During Aerosmith’s set at the Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington in the U.K., Jimmy Page joined Aerosmith onstage for a rendition of The Yardbirds’ “Train Kept A-Rollin’”. Other acts on the bill included Whitesnake & Poison.

1987: Aerosmith released their ninth studio album Permanent Vacation which was considered to be their “comeback” album. The album went on to peak at number eleven on the Billboard 200 Album Chart and sell five million copies in the U.S.

1986: Bon Jovi released their third album Slippery When Wet which went on to be their commercial breakthrough selling over 28 million copies worldwide to date.

1984: The fifth annual Monsters of Rock took place at Castle Donington in the U.K. AC/DC headlined a bill that included Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, & Motley Crue.

1983: The Police headlined a concert at Shea Stadium in New York City in front of 70,000 fans. The concert sold out in five hours. Also on the bill were Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and R.E.M.

1977: The Police performed their first concert as a three piece at Rebecca’s in Birmingham, U.K.

1973: Jethro Tull reached number one on the Billboard 200 Album Chart for the second and final time with A Passion Play which spent one week on top of the chart.




Birthdays:

Dennis Elliott - Drummer for Foreigner born in 1950

[IceWizard]

19 Aug 2017


International Homeless Animals Day









Every day, animals are abandoned or placed into kennels, dependent on charities and goodwill. These organisations are strained beyond coping, and are desperate to raise awareness of the plight of homeless and abandoned animals. Homeless Animals Day aims to educate people about pet abandonment, feral animals and benefits or neutering domestic animals.


And




International Orangutan Day

”Chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans have been living for hundreds of thousands of years in their forest, living fantastic lives, never overpopulating, never destroying the forest. I would say that they have been in a way more successful than us as far as being in harmony with the environment.”
~ Jane Goodall

Orangutan, old man of the forest, an inhabitant of rich tropical forests and endangered victim of the Palm Oil industry. These magnificent creatures have been facing extinction at the hands of deforestation in the name of industry for decades. International Orangutan Day was established to help raise awareness of their plights and aid in protecting them.

History of International Orangutan Day

Orangutans are only found in two places in the world, Sumatra and Borneo, and the two species of the orangutan who live there used to be considered a single species. Further research has revealed that these are actually two separate species who first diverged about 400,000 years ago. Orangutans have immense arm spans, ranging nearly 7 feet from tip to tip, remarkable when you consider that they only stand approximately 5’ above the ground. On the rare occasion that Orangutans actually stand upright, their hands nearly brush the ground.

The length of these arms suits their arboreal lifestyle, helping them move from tree to tree and creating shelters from the large leaves of their canopy homes. Orangutans have a tendency to spend 90% of their time in the treetops, making deforestation particularly devastating for them, as they spend the majority of their time there foraging for food. While primarily herbivores, the omnivorous orangutan will eat bark, insects, and even meat when they can get it. International Orangutan Day raises awareness that these people of the forest require protection before they disappear from the Earth forever.



And




World Honey Bee Day



World Honey Bee Day, previously known as Honey Bee Awareness Day, is an idea put together by beekeepers in the USA, who petitioned the USDA in 2009 for an official day to honour honey bees and beekeeping. A few years down the line, people across the globe are holding a date of observation every year.

Honey Bee awareness enthusiasts will likely put a bee in your bonnet and say this is not so much a day to celebrate honey bees, as it is to promote their involvement in sustainable farming.
On this day, bee lovers everywhere decorate their gardens with lavender, borage and marjoram, the bee’s knees in pollinator lures. If you have the time and patience, bake some honey chippers and make your own honey fruit cobbler. And because you’ve been as busy as a bee all day, sit back and watch Hitchcock’s ‘The Bees’. You’ll count your blessings honey bees are nothing like South American killer bees!

---

---

---

---

August 19 Birthdays




John Stamos - 54




Bill Clinton - 71




Matthew Perry - 48




Coco Chanel - (1883 - 1971) (87)




Orville Wright - (1871 - 1948) (76)





John Deacon - 66








August 19th


2007: A concert in honor of late Boston singer Brad Delp was held at the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston & featured performances by Godsmack, Extreme, RTZ & Boston.

2005: A bronze statue of Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott was unveiled on Harry Street in Lynott’s hometown of Dublin, Ireland.

1991: Judas Priest performed their last concert with Rob Halford for 13 years at the CNE Grandstand in Toronto. During the concert Halford was injured as he rode a motorcycle onstage when he collided with a drum riser hidden behind dry ice. Halford later returned to finish the concert.

1989: Bon Jovi headlined a bill at the Milton Keynes Bowl in the U.K. The bill also included Europe, Vixen & Skid Row. During Bon Jovi’s set, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler & Joe Perry joined them onstage during their encore for a rendition of “Walk This Way”.

1980: Alice Cooper cancelled a scheduled concert at the CNE Grandstand in Toronto due to suffering an asthma attack, which led 1,400 fans to riot over Cooper’s no-show.

1980: Black Sabbath performed their last concert with original drummer Bill Ward in Minneapolis at the Metropolitan Sports Center. Ward would shortly be replaced by Vinny Appice. Ward would later re-join and leave the band multiple times over the next 30+ years.

1977: Alice Cooper began a two-night stand at The Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas where he recorded his first live album The Alice Cooper Show.

1969: Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell and Jefferson Airplane appeared on The Dick Cavett Show.

1964: The Beatles kicked off their first full-fledged North American tour at the Cow Palace in San Francisco.




Birthdays:

Ginger Baker -Drummer for Cream born in 1939

Ian Gillian - Singer for Deep Purple born in 1945

John Deacon - Bassist for Queen born in 1951

Joey Tempest - Singer for Europe born in 1963

[IceWizard]

20 Aug 2017


Chocolate Pecan Pie Day



If you have a sweet tooth, Chocolate Pecan Pie Day is the perfect opportunity to indulge. You needn’t feel too guilty about grabbing a piece of pie, because pecans have all kinds of health benefits. They contain more valuable antioxidants than any other type of nut, plus plenty of fibre, minerals and vitamins.

The word pecan comes from the Native American Algonquin language. As the only nuts native to north America, pecans have been eaten for generations in both the USA and Mexico, but they’ve only been grown commercially since the late 19th century. One of the most popular ways to enjoy these buttery, crunchy nuts is to bake them in a pie, and adding chocolate makes it even more delicious. The perfect way to celebrate Chocolate Pecan Pie Day is to bake a pie for family and friends. Go nuts and enjoy yourself!


And




World Mosquito Day



World Mosquito Day was first established in 1897, when the link between mosquitos and malaria transmission was discovered by Sir Ronald Ross. It aims to raise awareness about the causes of malaria and how it can be prevented, as well as fundraising for research into the cure of malaria. It is also a salute to the groundbreaking work of Sir Ross and scientists who have followed him.

The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine celebrates World Mosquito Day with exhibitions and parties designed both to entertain and to inform, while other celebrations include Malaria No More’s ‘Mozzy Air’ campaign, encouraging people to take anti-malarial when flying to malaria zones, and Nothing But Nets’ twitter campaigns to provide mosquito nets for poor communities.

Get involved by holding a fundraiser to provide nets or quinine, distributing information about the precautions people should take when travelling to danger spots, or celebrating the achievements of research into mosquitoes and how to prevent the diseases they carry.

---

---

---

---

August 20 Birthdays




Robert Plant - 69




Dimebag Darrell - (1966 - 2004) (38)




Al Roker - 63




Fred Durst - 63




Sylvester McCoy - 74




Benjamin Harrison - (1833 - 1901) (67)




Isaac Hayes - (1942 - 2008) (65)




Phil Lynott - (1949 - 1986) (36 )







August 20th


2005: At Iron Maiden’s final appearance on Ozzfest in San Bernardino, CA, eggs were thrown at them, their sound was cut off & a stage invader ran onstage with an American flag all of which was orchestrated by Sharon Osbourne.

2000: Bon Jovi performed the final concert at the old Wembley Stadium in London. It was their fifth concert at the stadium & they were scheduled to be the first band to perform at the new Wembley Stadium in 2006, but delays in construction of the new stadium led their concerts to be moved.

1990: During an Aerosmith concert at London’s Marquee Club, Jimmy Page joined them onstage for a rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song”.

1988: During Guns N’ Roses’ set at the Monsters of Rock festival in Donington, U.K., two fans died in a crowd surge while the group performed. Other acts on the bill included Iron Maiden, Kiss & David Lee Roth.

1983: Stevie Nicks peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Stand Back” which was her third top ten single as a solo artist.

1981: Bruce Springsteen’s concert at the Los Angeles Sports Arena was a benefit performance for the Vietnam Veterans of American Foundation and Mental Health Association.

1973: The Rolling Stones released “Angie” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart shortly after its release.

1969: Frank Zappa disbanded The Mothers of Invention and his reason is he’s “tired of playing for people who clap for all the wrong reasons”. They would re-form the following May.

1969: The Beatles finished recording “I Want You (She’s so Heavy)” at Abbey Road studios and worked on the running order for the album Abbey Road. This was the last time all of The Beatles were together in a recording studio.




Birthdays:

Robert Plant born in 1948

Phil Lynott - singer & bassist for Thin Lizzy born in 1949