Ernie's Blog

February 28th – National Tooth Fairy Day

Good morning believers in generous sprites. Today is Tuesday, February 27, 2017. Today’s reasons to celebrate are:

National Tooth Fairy Day

At one time or another, almost all of us have been visited by the tooth fairy. For hundreds of years, people have shared mystical legends, stories, and traditions about the loss of baby teeth. The early Europeans buried children’s teeth so witches and evil spirits couldn’t use them for voodoo. The Vikings believed that children’s teeth had magical powers that could help them fight in battle. They would pay their children for their lost baby teeth and string them onto necklaces and other jewelry.
Over time, people began to share stories about a Tooth Mouse who scampers around town and steals children’s teeth in the middle of the night. The story of the Tooth Mouse evolved into the story of the Tooth Fairy who leaves treasures under children’s pillows in exchange for their lost teeth. Tooth Fairy traditions are still popular today. Kids all over the world place their lost baby teeth under their pillows at night and look forward to a wonderful surprise in the morning.
Author’s Note: The amount of money per tooth left by the Tooth Fairy is on the decline. In 2015, the average amount left by the Tooth Fairy was $3.19– down from $3.43 in 2014 and $3.70 in 2013. One-third of children get $1.00 per tooth and 10% of children get nothing.

Public Sleeping Day

The tradition of the siesta has existed in Mexico for centuries – and today, many companies in Japan are realizing that allowing employees a short nap during the work day can actually result in increased production. Even in America, employers such as Google, Huffington Post/AOL, and Nike offer sleep pods or sleep rooms to their employees to reap the benefits of napping. Studies have shown certain types of naps fuel the brain and recharge our batteries and naps can improve productivity, decrease health risks and improve morale.
Public Sleeping Day encourages you to catch a few winks no matter where you are today…just be sensible about it. And, by that, I mean don’t fall asleep on a park bench, sidewalk, or public transportation…you might be robbed or arrested for vagrancy. Don’t fall asleep in the direct sunlight…you suffer the ravages of heat stroke or severe sunburn. And, unless you have an enlightened boss like those mentioned above, don’t fall asleep at work…or you suffer the ravages of unemployment.
Believe it or not, there are different types of naps.

• The Power Nap – Approximately 10 to 20 minutes long, it can give a boost of energy to get us through the rest of the day. It also doesn’t leave us drowsy like some longer naps might and will also allow us to fall asleep at a decent time at night.
• The Hangover – About 30 minutes long, it is the least beneficial of naps. It can leave us disoriented and wanting more sleep. Eventually, you will recover, but it may take a bit of time before we realize any benefits.
• The Brainiac – Lasts about 60 minutes and includes the deepest sleep. While you may feel a little grogginess upon waking, your ability to recall facts, names, and faces, will be improved. This type of nap may be the best nap after a round of studying or before a big test.
• The California King – Lasts about 90 minutes and is typically a full cycle of sleep. It will include REM or a dream stage sleep. This type of nap improves creative thinking and motor memory but may affect your ability to sleep at night.

So when the afternoon doldrums kick in today, don’t fight it. Let nature take its course on Public Sleeping Day.

Floral Design Day

Floral Design Day began as a way to celebrate the birthday of Carl Rittner, founder of the Rittner School of Floral Design in Boston; and to appreciate floral design as a unique and creative art form. And yes, the holiday is official – the Governor of Massachusetts William F. Weld proclaimed it in 1995.
For thousands of years, floral design has been an important cultural art form. From a simple bridal bouquet or a bouquet to brighten up someone’s day to majestic, historic gardens, floral designers have an eye for color, style, and perspective.
Floral design is a multi-billion dollar industry that brightens our lives on a daily basis. Floral designs, big or small, can complete a space and complement existing structures bringing brightness and color to them.
As with many arts, floral design has roots dating back to the Ancient Egyptians. Temple offerings to gods and the design changed from era to era, each having distinct customs and traditions.
History lesson aside, Floral Design Day is an excuse to go wild about flowers and let your inner creativity spark. Take a stroll past your local flower shop and admire the floral arrangements in their window. Or you can buy, or pick, some flowers and design your own floral arrangement at home. Either way, take some time out today to “stop and smell [and arrange] the flowers.”

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras, the last day of Carnival and the day before for Ash Wednesday, is the combining of a period festivals and feasts that lead to a time of fasting and reflection. Also known as Shrove Tuesday and Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras has many traditions and deep roots around the world.
Mardi Gras (French for Fat Tuesday) dates back to an ancient Roman festival which took place in mid-February. When Christians arrived in Rome, they incorporated the festival into Lenten preparations.
For centuries, this feast prepared Christians for the season of Lent and used up valuable meat and supplies they would be abstaining from in the days to come. Traditions surrounding Mardi Gras have changed over time, with regional traditions and practices becoming incorporated into the custom.
In the United Kingdom, Mardi Gras is also known as Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day. Pancakes are the perfect menu item when the future includes abstaining from fats, eggs, and sweets! In Russia, they celebrate the entire week during Shrovetide as Pancake Week.
While the French didn’t originate the Mardi Gras, they certainly put their own twist on it. From parades to beignets and colorful masks, the last day of Carnival is full of elaborate costumes and lavish food sure to hold the revelers over through a long fast. During the 16th century, their ancestors celebrated Boeuf Gras (fatted calf) which included a tradition of parading a bull decorated with flowers through the city. The decorated animal is followed through the streets by a retinue of colorfully dressed attendants and bands playing unusual instruments. There was even a Boeuf Gras Society in Mobile, Alabama at one time.
New Orleans holds the crown for Carnival and Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States. While the city is filled with French flavor and style, its culture is an eclectic infusion of many cultures.
The roots of Mardi Gras have been woven together for centuries from medieval spring festivals and feasts that were based on the Christian calendar. Mardi Gras is celebrated around the world in various forms all of which harken back to these roots of spring festivals and religious fasting in preparation for the Holy day of Easter.
Credit for bringing Mardi Gras to America goes to French explorers Pierre Le Moyne Sieur d’Iberville and Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville. In 1699, d’Iberville reached the mouth of the Mississippi river on Shrove Tuesday near what is now Louisiana and named it Pointe du Mardi Gras. Thanks to their establishment of Fort Louis de la Mobile, modern-day Mobile, Alabama lays claim to the first Mardi Gras celebration on American soil in 1703. When de Bienville established Nouvelle Orleans (New Orleans) in 1788, Mardi Gras celebrations reportedly began immediately. In 1875, Louisiana declared Mardi Gras an official holiday.
To truly celebrate Mardi Gras, you need to be in New Orleans. But, if you aren’t, you can, to a lesser extent, celebrate it at home. Plan a menu based upon all of the traditional fatty, sugary foods of Mardi Gras. You could even go so far as making masks and costumes to wear throughout your festivities.

The list of holidays below, like Mardi Gras, center around a common theme…indulging oneself before Lent. I have listed them individually, and, naturally, provide a link where you can obtain specific information for each.

• International Pancake Day 
• Pączki Day 
• Fat Tuesday   
• Shrove Tuesday  

National Chocolate Soufflé Day

Though cheese soufflés and other savory soufflés may be better known, chocolate soufflé might be the perfect dessert after a rich meal. The first Chocolate Soufflé recipe can be traced to the 1742 French recipe book, “Le Cuisinier.”
A chocolate soufflé can be tricky to make, but it is a sure way to impress your guests – if you can pull it off. They are well-known for collapsing 5-10 minutes after coming out of the oven, so be sure to serve them as soon as you remove them from the oven. Also, consider topping your soufflés with fruit or plenty of sauce to hide the inevitable.
The French word ‘soufflé’ comes from the verb ‘souffler‘, meaning to “to blow” or “puff up.” Two very simple ingredients make a soufflé: a cream/ puree base, and egg whites whipped to a soft peak meringue. The base gives the soufflé its flavor while the egg whites give the puffy treat its bloated appearance. It can then be flavored as desired. The best soufflés are cooked using a well-greased porcelain ramekins.

More Holidays

Car Keys and Small Change Day

International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day – Last day of February.

National Science Day

Rare Disease Day – Last day of February.

World Spay Day – Last Tuesday in February.

On This Date

• In 1827 – The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad became the first railroad incorporated for commercial transportation of people and freight.
• In 1849 – Regular steamboat service to California via Cape Horn arrived in San Francisco for the first time. The SS California had left New York Harbor on October 6, 1848. The trip took 4 months and 21 days.
• In 1854 – The Republican Party was organized in Ripon, WI. About 50 slavery opponents began the new political group.
• In 1861 – The territory of Colorado was sanctioned.
• In 1883 – The first vaudeville theater opened.
• In 1885 – AT&T (American Telephone and Telegraph) was incorporated. The company was capitalized on only $100,000 and provided long distance service for American Bell.
• In 1911 – Thomas A. Edison, Inc. was organized.
• In 1935 – Nylon was invented. Wallace Carothers first produced the polymer at the DuPont Experimental Station in Wilmington, Delaware.
• In 1940 – The first televised basketball game was shown from Madison Square Gardens in New York. The game featured Fordham University and the University of Pittsburgh.
• In 1951 – A Senate committee issued a report that stated that there were, at least, two major crime syndicates in the United States. [What they didn’t mention in the report is that they were one of them…OK, maybe not true then, but certainly true today].
• In 1975 – A London underground train crashed into the end of the tunnel at Moorgate station. The Moorgate tube crash claimed 43 lives and was the deadliest accident in the London Underground during peacetime.
• In 1977 – Eddie (Rodchester) Anderson (Jack Benny’s TV butler, chauffeur, and comic muse) died at age 71.
• In 1979 – Mr. Ed, the talking horse from the TV show “Mr. Ed”, died.
• In 1983 – “M*A*S*H” became the most-watched television program (at the time) in history when the last episode aired.
• In 1986 – Swedish prime minister Olof Palme was assassinated. Even though over 130 people have confessed to the murder, the case has never been solved.
• In 1991 – The first Gulf War ended. The armed conflict had lasted a little over half a year and claimed over 100,000 civilian casualties.
• In 1993 – Federal agents raided the compound of an armed religious cult in Waco, TX. The ATF had planned to arrest the leader of the Branch Davidians, David Koresh, on federal firearms charges. Four agents and six Davidians were killed, and a 51-day standoff ensued.
• In 1994 – NATO made its first military strike when U.S. F-16 fighters shot down four Bosnian Serb warplanes, in violation of a no-fly zone over central Bosnia.
• In 1995 – The new Denver International Airport (replacing Stapleton) opened after a 16-month delay.
• In 2001 – The Northwest region of the United States, including the state of Washington, was hit by an earthquake that measured 6.9 on the Richter Scale. There were no deaths reported.
• In 2009 –  American radio host Paul Harvey died. He was 90 years old.
• In 2013 –  Pope Benedict XVI resigned. The pope whose birth name is Joseph Ratzinger was the first leader of the Catholic Church to resign since 1415.

Noteworthy Birthdays

If you were born on this date, Happy Birthday. You share your birthday with the following list of illustrious individuals – and about 20-million other people.

• Charles Blondin, 1824 – Acrobat (first person to walk a tightrope across Niagara Falls).
• Ben Hecht, 1894 –  Screenwriter.
• Linus Pauling, 1901 – Dual Nobel Prize winner.
• Vincente Minnelli, 1903 – Director.
• Billie Bird, 1908 – Actress.
• Zero Mostel, 1915 – Actor.
• Charles Durning, 1923 – Actor.
• Chris Kraft, 1924 – NASA engineer (created NASA’s Mission Control operation).
• Stanley Baker, 1927 – Actor.
• Frank Gehry, 1929 – Architect (designed Walt Disney Concert Hall).
• Gavin MacLeod, 1931 – Actor.
• Tommy Tune, 1939 – Dancer.
• Joe South, 1940 – Singer/songwriter.
• Bernadette Peters, 1948 – Actress/singer.
• Paul Krugman, 1953 – American economist, Nobel Prize laureate.
• John Turturro, 1957 – Actor.
• Rae Dawn Chong, 1961 – Actress.

February 27th – It’s a No Brainer

Good morning intellectuals. Today is Monday, February 27, 2017. Today’s reasons to celebrate are:

No Brainer Day

You won’t be needing your intellect today because today is No Brainer Day. By definition, a ‘no brainer’ is a task so simple that it requires little or no conscious thought to accomplish. The term no brainer originated in engineering jargon as a way to describe something that should be obvious to anybody but soon evolved into everyday vernacular.
No Brainer Day urges you to stop over analyzing things, stop second-guessing yourself, and to just relax and take it easy. If a project requires thinking, study, or analysis of any kind, put it off until tomorrow. Today is the day to do all of those simple, easy, obvious, and/or logical tasks that you have put off because they’re “no brainers”. Don’t even think about doing anything else.
Factoid:  In a study conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, neuroscientists found that the human brain could process images that had been flashed before the person for as little as 13 milliseconds.

Polar Bear Day

Polar Bear Day was created in 2011 to create awareness of the plight of polar bears due to loss of habitat. In 2008, polar bears were classified as a ‘threatened species’ under the Endangered Species Act. The new classification will strengthen already existing regulations concerning the killing of polar bears and the importing of related products to the United States.
Polar Bears are impressive hunters and are the world’s largest carnivores. They can reach up to nine feet tall when standing erect and weigh up to 1400 pounds. They have large front paws, which are slightly webbed, used to paddle as they swim. They have a warming layer of fat which is covered by their thick coat of insulating fur which helps them live in the colder environments. Polar Bears are native to Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. Seals and fish are their primary source of food.
The easiest way to celebrate Polar Bear Day is a visit to a nearby zoo that has a Polar Bear Exhibit. Other ways to celebrate include researching polar bears online or at the library and watching a documentary on polar bears on TV.
Author’s Note: I strongly recommend that you do not attempt to celebrate Polar Bear Day by visiting them in their native habitat (especially wearing a seal skin coat). The reasons for this are threefold.

1. They are huge.
2. They are carnivorous.
3. Right now it’s flippin’ cold where they live.

Anosmia Awareness Day  

Anosmia Awareness Day was created to increase awareness of anosmia — the loss of the sense of smell — which affects over six million Americans and many millions more worldwide.
Many physicians, including those who specialize in otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat disorders), have little understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms that cause the loss of our sense of smell. Researchers are using a variety of methods, including stem cell research, to try to determine the causes of anosmia and discover effective treatments.
Our sense of smell is more valuable than one might think. It is often the first indicator that there is danger…for instance smelling smoke when there is a fire. It is also linked to the pleasure centers in our brains…the aroma of a bouquet of roses, the aroma of ozone after a rain, the aroma of a candy shop, etc. I can’t even conceive a life without the sense of smell. 

Shrove Monday

Shrove Monday, sometimes known as Collop Monday, is the Monday before Ash Wednesday every year and is a part of the English traditional Shrovetide celebrations of the week before Lent. Shrove Monday events of the New Orleans and Mississippi Gulf Coast Mardi Gras, date back to the 19th century. However, since the late 20th century, they have been named Lundi Gras (“Fat Monday”). In layman’s terms, it signals that Easter is nigh upon us.
The British name for Shrove Monday, Collop Monday, relates to the traditional dish of the day, consisting of slices of leftover meat (collops of bacon) along with eggs. It is eaten for breakfast and is part of the traditional Lenten preparations. In addition to providing a little meat, the collops were also the source of the fat for the following day’s pancakes. The word collop, here, is taken to mean a small piece of bacon. In general, it is used to refer to a small piece of meat.
The term Shrove Monday is no longer widely used in the United States or Canada outside of liturgical traditions, such as in the Lutheran, Anglican, and Roman Catholic Churches. The whole process for determining the date on which Easter, and therefore Lent, fall each year is complicated, and I can’t even begin to explain the correlation between the two. This link may help you.
Author’s note: Not being religious, the only way I know that Easter is approaching is when the chocolate hearts in stores are replaced with Peeps and chocolate bunnies.

National Strawberry Day

Strawberries are a unique berry in that its seeds grow on the outside of the fruit instead of the inside as do most berries. Food historians generally believe that strawberries were first cultivated in ancient Rome. In the United States, strawberries were first cultivated during the mid-1830’s in Massachusetts. Today strawberries grow in every US state and Canadian province.
Strawberries are not only are they delicious, but they are also fragrant. – not surprising, they belong to the rose family. There are over 600 varieties of strawberries and they are an excellent source of Vitamin C and are also a good source of folic acid, potassium, and fiber. Strawberries contain only 55 calories and zero fat and cholesterol in a 1 cup serving.
While the best season for strawberries is from late April to August, they can be grown year-round in temperate climates as long as they are protected from freezing.
Below are a few strawberry picking and preserving tips:

• Pick fully ripe berries. Strawberries don’t continue to ripen if picked too early like bananas or pears.
• Don’t overfill your container. Berries are tender and can bruise easily.
• Don’t wash the fruit until you are ready to eat. Strawberries are susceptible to mold and washing will speed up spoilage.
• The best time to pick strawberries is on cool, cloudy days, but if they will be eaten right away, any time is perfect!
• If you pick more than you can eat before they spoil, strawberries freeze very well. Pluck off the green caps and toss into a freezer bag. Use for smoothies, ice cream or cake toppings.

National Kahlua Day

Kahlua is a rich, creamy, rum-based, coffee-flavored liqueur from Mexico. People enjoy it straight up, on the rocks, and mixed in coffee or cocktails (like the White Russian). Kahlua is also used to flavor desserts such as ice cream, cakes, and cheesecakes. The word “Kahlua” means “house of the Acolhua people” in the Nahuatl language. A company named Domecq has produced the drink since 1936 and named it for the native people of Veracruz. Kahlua is made with rum, Mexican coffee, sugar, and vanilla.

On This Date

• In 1801 – The city of Washington, DC, was placed under congressional jurisdiction.
• In 1827 – New Orleans held its first Mardi Gras celebration.
• In 1867 – Dr. William G. Bonwill invented the dental mallet.
• In 1883 – Oscar Hammerstein patented the first cigar-rolling machine.
• In 1896 – The “Charlotte Observer” published a picture of an X-ray photograph made by Dr. H.L. Smith. The photograph showed a perfect picture of all the bones of a hand and a bullet that Smith had placed between the third and fourth fingers in the palm. It was the first X-ray photograph to ever appear in a newspaper.
• In 1922 – The Supreme Court upheld the 19th Amendment that guaranteed women the right to vote.
• In 1939 – The Supreme Court outlawed sit-down strikes.
• In 1951 – The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, limiting United States Presidents to two terms.
• In 1973 – The American Indian Movement (AIM) occupied Wounded Knee in South Dakota.
• In 1974 – “People” magazine was first issued by Time-Life (later known as Time-Warner).
• In 1981 – Chrysler Corporation was granted an additional $400 million in federal loan guarantees. Chrysler had posted a loss of $1.7 billion in 1980.
• In 1982 – Wayne B. Williams was convicted of murdering two of the 28 black children and young adults whose bodies were found in Atlanta, GA, over a two-year period.
• In 1990 – The Exxon Corporation and Exxon Shipping were indicted on five criminal counts in reference to the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.
• In 1991 – President George H.W. Bush announced live on television that “Kuwait is liberated.”
• In 1997 – Ireland finally legalized divorce.
• In 1998 – Britain’s House of Lords agreed to give a monarch’s first-born daughter the same claim to the throne as any first-born son. This was the end of 1,000 years of male preference.
• In 2002 – Twenty people working at Logan International Airport in Boston, MA were charged with lying to get their jobs or security badges.

Noteworthy Birthdays

If you were born on this date, Happy Birthday. You share your birthday with the following list of illustrious individuals – and about 20-million other people.

• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1807 – Poet.
• Hugo Black, 1886 – Supreme Court Justice.
• John Steinbeck, 1902 – Writer.
• Franchot Tone, 1905 – Actor.
• Joan Bennett, 1910 – Actress.
• Joanne Woodward, 1930 – Actress.
• Elizabeth Taylor, 1932 – Actress.
• Ralph Nader, 1934 – Consumer advocate.
• Howard Hesseman, 1940 – Actor.
• Mary Frann, 1943 – Actress.
• Debra Monk, 1949 – Actress.
• Adam Baldwin, 1962 – Actor.
• Chelsea Clinton, 1980 – Former First Daughter.
• Josh Groban, 1981 – Singer.

February 26th – Oh, for Pete’s Sake

Oh, for Pete’s sake, good morning already. Today is Sunday, February 26, 2017. Today’s reasons to celebrate are:

For Pete’s Sake Day

“For Pete’s sake” is a euphemism — a word or phrase used in place of a more profane or vulgar phrase not accepted in polite society. Perhaps because profanity and vulgarity are more accepted by society these days, one seldom hears the phrase anymore, except maybe in the “Bible Belt” – but those from my generation (Baby Boomers) are quite familiar with the expression.
For Pete’s sake is used to convey anger or frustration at an object, person or circumstance. For example: “For Pete’s sake, what is wrong with kids today?” – Or: “Oh for Pete’s sake, I dropped my iPhone in the toilet.” – Or, “for Pete’s sake, is this rain ever going to end?” – Or, “for Pete’s sake, when is the Orange Oracle going to get off of Twitter and start governing?”
You may be wondering where the term “for Pete’s sake” originated. Some Christians use this euphemism believing that using it instead of cursing will garner favor with Saint Peter, thus giving them a better chance to enter the gates Heaven – but they are wrong. All of my research indicates that “for Pete’s sake” is nothing more than a corruption of the term “for pity sake”. As for poor Pete, no one knows why he was singled out as the person to whom you direct your frustration.
If you want to learn more about this, or other euphemisms, for Pete’s sake, research it yourself…you can’t expect me to do everything for you.

Levi Strauss Day

Today marks the 144th anniversary of the day, in 1873, that Levi Strauss applied for his patent for the “copper rivet” design of one of the most durable and popular articles of clothing ever manufactured. It wasn’t Levi Strauss who originally thought of the brand’s (Levi’s) trademark feature…metal rivets. One of Strauss’ customers, a tailor by the name of Jacob Davis, had the idea to use copper rivets to reinforce points of strain, such as the pocket corners and at the top of the button fly. As Davis did not have the required capital to purchase a patent, he suggested to Strauss that they both go into business together. The two men received the patent on May 20, 1873.
The history of jeans dates as far back as 16th century Europe. Soldiers from Genoa, Italy wore the blue fabric as a part of their uniforms. The word ‘jeans’ is derived from the French phrase: bleu de G nes, which literally translates to ‘the blue of Genoa’.
Ya gotta love Levi’s. They are always in style and are suitable for any occasion (except formal functions). So, wear your favorite pair of Levi’s proudly today to celebrate Levi Strauss Day.
Author’s Note: Coincidently, today also happens to be the birthday of Levi Strauss, who was born on this date in 1829.

Carnival Day

Each year, millions of Americans flock to carnivals and put down big bucks to be entertained by death-defying feats, clowns, elephants, lions, and other animal acts, and so much more. Carnivals are not limited to those big traveling spectaculars. There is a wide range of summer and winter carnivals across America. School carnivals are popular. Towns and even businesses hold carnivals of all types. Personally, I enjoyed carnivals as a kid, but these days, not so much.

Tell A Fairy Tale Day

To qualify as a fairy tale, a story does not need to begin with “Once upon a time,”  but, they often do. Nor does the story have to end with “and they all lived happily ever after”, but again, they often do.
‘Fairy Tales’ are a form of folk tales, passed down both orally and in printed form generation to generation. Before the 17th century, fairy tales often had themes unsuitable for children and were written mostly for adults. However, today, fairy tales are considered to be children’s literature and the term fairy tale is used to refer to happy events and happenings, such as a fairy tale romance or a fairy tale ending.
To celebrate, cozy up under a blanket with your children or grandchildren and read from a book of fairy tales. Libraries and schools will often mark this holiday with special fairy tale readings and story hours as well.

Thermos Bottle Day

Thermos™ is a brand of insulated vacuum bottle designed to keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold. The word thermos is also used generically to mean any insulated vacuum bottle. That is where the confusion lies. Does Thermos Bottle Day refer to the brand name Thermos™ bottle or just vacuum bottles in general? Since none of my sources referred to the Thermos™ brand bottles specifically, I am going to assume the latter.
Vacuum bottles (also known as a Dewar flask, Dewar bottle or thermos) were invented in 1892 by Scottish scientist Sir James Dewar as a result of his research in the field of cryogenics.  Dewar formed a brass chamber that he enclosed in another chamber to keep the palladium at its desired temperature. He evacuated the air between the two chambers creating a partial vacuum to keep the temperature of the contents stable. Through the need for this insulated container, Dewar created the vacuum flask, which became a significant tool for chemical experiments and became a common household item. However, Dewar refused to patent his invention.
Dewar’s flask was later developed using new materials such as glass and aluminum. In 1904, two German glass blowers (one of whom was Reinhold Burger) discovered that it could be used to keep cold drinks cold and warm drinks warm. Since the Dewar flask design was never patented, they renamed it Thermos and claimed the rights to the commercial product and the trademark to the name. And the rest, as they say, is history. Over time, the company expanded the size, shapes, and materials of these consumer products, primarily used for carrying coffee on the go and carrying liquids on camping trips to keep them either hot or cold. Eventually, other manufacturers produced similar products for consumer use
A vacuum flask is actually two bottles, placed one within the other and joined at the neck. The gap between the two bottles is partially evacuated of air, creating a partial vacuum which reduces heat conduction or convection. Heat transfer by thermal radiation may be minimized by silvering flask surfaces facing the gap but can become problematic if the flask’s contents or surroundings are very hot; hence vacuum flasks usually hold contents below the boiling point of water. Most heat transfer occurs through the neck and opening of the flask, where there is no vacuum. Vacuum flasks are usually made of metal, borosilicate glass, foam or plastic and have their opening stoppered with a cork or polyethylene plastic. Vacuum flasks come in many different sizes and have a variety of uses– from that Thermos™ bottle in your lunchbox to huge vacuum-insulated shipping containers.
So, to celebrate Thermos Bottle Day, use your insulated vacuum vessel today – no matter the brand. Since today is not a work day for most people, fill it up with your favorite hot or cold beverage and go for a nature hike.

National Pistachio Day

Pistachios come from a small bushy tree native to the Middle East. It produces bunches of fruit (similar to grapes) and the pistachio nut is the seed of that fruit. Pistachios have more antioxidants per serving than green tea and are also an excellent source of fiber, copper, manganese, and Vitamin B6.
Pistachios are not just eaten roasted as a snack food, they are also used in cooking. Their sweet flavor most often finds them used in desserts, such as baklava or even pistachio ice cream, but they can be used in savory dishes as well.
The largest producer of pistachio nuts today is Iran but they are also grown in other areas, including California and Mediterranean Europe.
Here are a few more interesting facts about pistachios.

• Pistachios are native to the Middle East.
• In the Middle East, people call them the “smiling nut”.
• The Chinese are the greatest consumers of pistachios.
• In China, they are called the “happy nut”.
• It is thought that pistachios have been eaten by humans for at least 9000 years.
• It takes 7-10 years for a pistachio tree to mature.
• California is the biggest producer pistachios in the United States.
• Pistachios are harvested in September by machines that shake the trees.
• The red dye added to pistachios is only due to consumer demand for the color.
• The pistachio’s open hull is unique. The nut is fully ripe only when the hull splits open.

Pistachios are one of my favorite nuts. They are delicious and nutritious. Enjoy some in one form or another as a snack today. You can bet that I will.

Academy Awards

Tonight is the biggest night of the year for the film industry—the Academy Awards. While I don’t consider the Academy Awards a holiday, some of you might, so I’ll cover it anyway.
The Academy Awards, as of February 20, 2013, officially re-branded as The Oscars, are a set of awards given annually for excellence of cinematic achievements. There is no fixed date for this awards show, but it usually happens in either February of March. The criteria for setting the actual date each year seem to be one of the world’s most closely guarded secrets.
The first Academy Awards took place on May 16, 1929,  at a ceremony at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood at a private dinner party with less than 250 guests in attendance. The ceremony only lasted fifteen minutes, and the tickets cost $5.00 each. Over the years, the categories presented have expanded. Currently, Oscars are given in more than a dozen categories and include films of various types. It is also the oldest award ceremony in the media.  As one of the most preeminent award ceremonies in the world, the Academy Awards ceremony is televised live in more than 100 countries annually, with an average viewership of over 40 million people.
The trophy for the Academy Awards is a knight gripping a crusader’s sword standing on a reel of film. The reel has five spokes representing the original branches of the Academy: actors, directors, producers, technicians, and writers. The statuette is officially known as the Academy Award of Merit but was nicknamed “Oscar” in the 1930’s. Each of the Oscars costs $500 to produce and weigh about 8.5 pounds.
As I alluded to earlier, I am not a fan of The Oscars and I won’t be watching. It’s not that I don’t care about the recipients of the awards, it’s just that the awards show seems to drag on FOREVER. I am also not a big fan of the winners using their acceptance speeches to promote their pet cause or to make snide political remarks. Jeez, your peers just selected you as “the best of the best.” No one outside your insular circle of friends cares what your politics are. Graciously accept your award, shut up, and get off the stage!

More Holidays

 Personal Chef Day – Celebrated semiannually on February 26th and July 16th.

On This Date

• In 1815 – Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from the Island of Elba. He then began his second conquest of France.
• In 1863 – President Lincoln signed the National Currency Act.
• In 1870 – New York City, opened the first pneumatic-powered subway line to the public.
• In 1907 – Congress raised their own pay to $7500.
• In 1909 – A color motion picture was shown to the general public for the first time. A series of 21 short Kinemacolor film were presented at the Palace Theatre in London.
• In 1917 – The world’s first jazz record was recorded. The “Original Dixieland Jazz Band” recorded “Livery Stable Blues” for the Victor Talking Machine Company in New York.
• In 1919 – In Arizona, the Grand Canyon was established as a National Park with an act of Congress.
• In 1920 – The first German Expressionist film premiered. “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” by Robert Wiene is considered one of the best silent films of the horror genre.
• In 1929 – President Coolidge signed a bill creating the Grand Teton National Park.
• In 1930 – New York City installed traffic lights.
• In 1933 – A ground-breaking ceremony was held at Crissy Field for the Golden Gate Bridge.
• In 1952 – British Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced that Britain had developed an atomic bomb.
• In 1987 – The Tower Commission rebuked President Reagan for failing to control his national security staff in the wake of the Iran-Contra affair.
• In 1991 – Iraqi President Saddam Hussein announced on Baghdad Radio that Iraqi troops were being withdrawn from Kuwait.
• In 1991 – The world’s first web browser was presented to the public. The browser “WorldWideWeb” (later renamed “Nexus”) was developed by Tim Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist best known as the inventor of the internet.
• In 1993 – A car bomb exploded below the World Trade Center in New York City. The attack was carried out by a group of Islamist militants. Six people died in the blast and more than a thousand more were injured.
• In 1998 – A Texas jury rejected an $11 million lawsuit by Texas cattlemen who blamed Oprah Winfrey for a price drop after her on-air comment about mad-cow disease.
• In 1998 – An Oregon health panel ruled that taxpayers must help to pay for doctor-assisted suicides.
• In 2009 – The Pentagon reversed its 18-year policy of not allowing media to cover returning war dead. The reversal allowed some media coverage with family approval.

Noteworthy Birthdays 

If you were born on this date, Happy Birthday. You share your birthday with the following list of illustrious individuals – and about 20-million other people.

• Victor Hugo 1802 – French author, poet, playwright.
• Levi Strauss 1829 – Entrepreneur.
• William (Buffalo Bill) Cody 1846 – Frontiersman.
• John Harvey Kellogg – American surgeon, co-created Corn Flakes.
• Herbert Henry Dow 1866 – Entrepreneur.
• William Frawley 1887 – Actor.
• Jackie Gleason 1916 – Entertainer.
• Tony Randall 1920 – Actor.
• Betty Hutton 1921 – Actress.
• Ariel Sharon 1928 – Israeli general, politician, 11th Prime Minister of Israel.
• Fats Domino 1928 – Musician.
• Johnny Cash 1932 – Country musician.
• Mitch Ryder 1945 – Singer.
• Michael Bolton 1953 – Singer.
• Greg Germann 1958 – Actor.
• Jennifer Grant 1966 – Actress.
• Erykah Badu 1971 – Singer.

February 25th – Quiet Day

Good morning solitude seekers. Today is Saturday, February 25, 2017. Today’s reasons to celebrate are:

Quiet Day

Quiet Day, as the name implies, is a day to lower the noise level of your surroundings. It originally started as a holiday in the Anglican church to focus on special devotions, meditations, and instructions; however today it is construed more generally to mean lowering the amount of noise you make.
We can’t totally escape noise… it is all around us. Traffic, the din of workplaces, and even our homes are all sources of superfluous background noise, and there is not much we can do about that. But what we can do is reduce the amount of noise we make as individuals – which is the purpose of Quiet Day.
Noise causes stress, so reducing the amount of noise we make as an individual could be beneficial to our health. Studies done on stress and the adrenal glands at the Franklin Institute show that even low-level chronic noise increases aggression and decreases cooperation and is associated with increased risk for such serious physiological problems as peptic ulcers, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.
Reducing the noise level in your immediate environment helps the body relax, lowers blood pressure, and lowers heart your rate. It allows the mind to focus and be more creative. It can boost your immune system and decrease the amount of pain that we feel.
To celebrate Quiet Day, take control of your environment. If it gets too noisy, move away and find someplace quieter. Take a hike and enjoy the calming sounds of nature. If you can’t physically move away from the noise, relax. Take a few deep breaths and think serene thoughts. Try to clear your mind of the auditory clutter that is causing you so much stress.

International Sword Swallowers Day

First, I ask you to please keep your tawdry sexual innuendoes to yourselves…unless, of course, they are funny. In that case, leave them in the comments.
International Sword Swallowers Day is always held on the last Saturday in February and is sponsored by Ripley’s  “Believe It or Not!”. They will be holding events in Believe It or Not! “Odditoriums” world-wide. Its purpose is to honor veteran performers and to raise funds for esophageal cancer research.
Believe it or not, sword swallowers have made some contributions in the fields of medicine and science. Sword swallowers have been prodded and examined by doctors and scientists at medical centers over the past 150 years without recognition. In 1868, a sword swallower was used by Dr. Adolf Kussmaul in Freiburg Germany to develop the first rigid endoscopy. In 1906, a sword swallower underwent the first esophageal electrocardiogram in Wales.
I cannot, in all good conscience, urge you to celebrate International Sword Swallowing Day…unless you are already an accomplished sword swallower. If you don’t know what you’re doing, sword swallowing can have serious, if not fatal consequences and is something best left to professionals. You can, however, take a few minutes to research the history of sword swallowing.

Let’s All Eat Right Day

Let’s All Eat Right Day honors Adelle Davis, one of the country’s best-known nutritionists. Adelle was born on this date in 1904 and was an advocate of the nutrition movement. She wrote a series of books about healthy living including the books: “Let’s Cook it Right”, “Let’s Have Healthy Children”, “Let’s Eat Right to Keep Fit”, and “Let’s Get Well”. Adelle was a proponent for eating whole unprocessed foods. She criticized food additives and claimed that dietary supplements and other nutrients played a huge role in preventing diseases and restoring health when recovering from a disease. Use this holiday to consider your food choices and ways you can change your diet to eat healthier.

Open That Bottle Night

Created by columnists Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher in 2000, Open That Bottle Night is an annual occasion celebrated on the last Saturday in February. It aims to motivate people to reconnect with each other over a cherished bottle of wine, champagne, and/or spirits – and create lasting memories with friends and family.
Open That Bottle Night is dedicated to making sure that those bottles of fine wine put away for a special occasion, are used and enjoyed. You know the one. That bottle you bought at that quaint little wine shop in (fill in city here) on your honeymoon. Or the one that you bought when you toured California Wine Country a few years back but was a little too expensive to serve to your casual friends. Tonight is the night to open that symbolically significant bottle and share the memories and stories of that event again with the ones you love.

National Clam Chowder Day

There are many different types chowders, and there are even quite a number of clam chowders, but the dominant styles are; New England and Manhattan. New England clam chowder is a roux based chowder made with milk or cream whereas Manhattan clam chowder is tomato based. Of the two most prominent types, the most popular seems to be New England style, which originated in the Northeast in the early 1800’s.
National Clam Chowder Day celebrates clam chowder in any of its forms. It encourages you to enjoy a steamy bowl of clam chowder – whether New England style, Manhattan style, or any of the myriad, lesser-known regional styles.
Since we celebrated New England Clam Chowder Day about a month ago, I won’t delve into the history of chowders again.

Chocolate-Covered Nuts Day

Again, I ask you to please keep your tawdry sexual innuendos to yourself. Chocolate-covered Nuts Day is pretty much self-explanatory.
Nuts have been a staple of the human diet for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks and Romans were fond of the walnut, Native Americans enjoyed the pecan, and the Chinese believed the hazelnut was one of the five sacred nourishments.
People also believed that chocolate had divine properties. The Aztecs and Mayans drank chocolate mixed with water for all their sacred rituals. In the 17th century, chocolate became a very fashionable drink throughout Europe and people soon learned that everything tastes better when it’s covered in chocolate. By the middle of the 19th century, it was a common practice to dip items like pretzels, nuts, and fruits into melted chocolate.
To celebrate Chocolate-Covered Nuts Day, any kind of nut will do, as long as it is covered in chocolate. Nuts are packed with protein, and moderate amounts of chocolate have been proven to have health benefits…so, basically, chocolate-covered nuts are health food, right?
What is your favorite type of chocolate-covered nut?

On This Date

• In 1570 – England’s Queen Elizabeth I was excommunicated by Pope Pius V.
• In 1751 – Edward Willet displayed the first trained monkey act in the United States.
• In 1793 – The department heads of the United States government met with President Washington for the first Cabinet meeting on record in the United States.
• In 1836 – Samuel Colt was issued Patent (# 138) for the Colt Revolver, the first pistol with a revolving cylinder with multiple chambers for cartridges.
• In 1837 – Thomas Davenport patented the first commercial electrical motor. There was no practical electrical distribution system available at the time, and Davenport went bankrupt.
• In 1901 – The United States Steel Corp. was incorporated by J.P. Morgan.
• In 1913 – The 16th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified. It authorized a graduated income tax.
• In 1919 – The state of Nebraska became the first state to place a tax on gasoline. The tax was 1 cent per gallon.
• In 1928 – The Federal Radio Commission issued the first United States television license to Charles Jenkins Laboratories in Washington, DC.
• In 1930 – The bank check photographing device was patented.
• In 1933 – The first aircraft carrier, USS Ranger, was launched.
• In 1940 – The New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadians played in the first hockey game to be televised in the United States. The game was aired on W2WBS in New York with one camera in a fixed position. The Rangers beat the Canadiens 6-2.
• In 1947 – The state of Prussia was dissolved. At its peak, the most important state of the German empire encompassed parts of modern-day Germany, Poland, and Russia.
• In 1948 – Communists seized power in Czechoslovakia.
• In 1956 – Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev criticized the late Josef Stalin in a speech before a Communist Party congress in Moscow.
• In 1964 – Muhammad Ali became world heavyweight champion for the first time. Ali, who still used his original name Cassius Clay at the time, is considered one of the greatest heavyweight boxers in history.
• In 1972 – Germany gave a $5 million ransom to Arab terrorists who had hijacked a jumbo jet.
• In 1986 – Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos fled the Philippines after 20 years of rule, after a tainted election. Corazon Aquino was then sworn in as the 11th President of the Philippines. Aquino’s presidency ended 20 years of dictatorship. She was the first female president in Asia.
• In 1991 – The Warsaw Pact was disbanded. Following the end of the Cold War, the defense treaty between 8 communist states had lost its purpose. It had been signed in 1955 as an antagonist of NATO.
• In 1994 – Baruch Goldstein, an Israeli doctor, killed 30 unarmed Palestinians in the Mosque of Abraham. The massacre by the right-wing extremist was condemned worldwide…even in Israel.
• In 1999 – William King was sentenced to death for the racial murder of James Byrd Jr in Jasper, TX. Two other men charged were later convicted for their involvement.
• In 2005 – Dennis Rader was arrested for the BTK (bind, torture, kill) serial killings in Wichita, KS. He later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 life prison terms.

Noteworthy Birthdays

If you were born on this date, Happy Birthday. You share your birthday with the following list of illustrious individuals – and about 20-million other people.

• José de San Martín 1778 – Argentinian general, politician, 1st President of Peru.
• Pierre-Auguste Renoir 1841 – Impressionist artist.
• Enrico Caruso 1873 – Italian tenor.
• Zeppo Marx 1909 – Comedian.
• Jim Backus 1913 – Actor, Comedian.
• Bobby Riggs 1918 – Tennis player.
• Tommy Newsom 1929 – Musician.
• Faron Young  1932 – Singer.
• Sally Jessi Raphael, 1935 – TV talk show host.
• Bob Schieffer 1937 – Newscaster.
• Diane Baker 1938 – Actress.
• Karen Grassle 1944 – Actress.
• Veronica Webb 1965 – Actress.
• Téa Leoni 1966 – Actress.
• Carrot Top (Scott Simpson) 1967 – Comedian.
• Rashida Jones 1976 – Actress.

February 24th – I’ll Have A Cuba Libre…Hold the Lime.

Good morning mixologists. Today is Friday, February 24, 2017. Today’s reasons to celebrate are:

World Bartender Day  

Bartending is a difficult and often a thankless job. Not only does a good bartender have to know how to make myriad different drinks, they also have to put up with people in various stages of intoxication, and be willing to listen to people’s troubles…and since a large portion of their income is derived from tips, they have to do all of this while maintaining a positive attitude and keeping a smile on their faces.
World Bartender Day salutes these saintly souls who keep our glasses full and our spirits high.
In my younger days, I spent many an hour ensconced on a bar stool across from some really nice bartenders who were always willing to exchange a joke or two and generally brighten my day.

National Skip the Straw Day

National Skip the Straw Day is a new addition to the National Day Calendar being celebrated for the first time this year and to be observed annually on the fourth Friday in February henceforth. It was created by students at Whitehall Middle School in Whitehall, MI (who call themselves the Coral Keepers) and their advisor, Susan Tate.
For millennia, mankind ingested liquids either from their hands or from cup-shaped or cylindrical vessels. Then, in 1888, Marvin Stone invented the paper straw…and the world was changed forever.
In the 1960s, plastic straws were introduced and because of their minimal cost, their durability, and their convenience, they eventually all but pushed paper straws out of the market. But like with most other products of convenience, once they are no longer usable, they become an environmental problem. Today, landfills, roadsides, and even the world’s waterways are being inundated with plastic refuse.
National Skip the Straw Day encourages Americans to give up plastic straws and help spread awareness about the damage caused by disposable plastics. According to the National Park Service, Americans use 500 million plastic drinking straws daily. That’s a lot of non-biodegradable waste that will eventually wind up in our environment.
The easiest way to celebrate National Skip the Straw Day is to pick up the glass and tip it back like your parents taught you to do when you were a toddler. It may take some practice and maybe both hands, but you’ll eventually get the hang of it.  Here are some other eco-friendly options.

• Bamboo straws are renewable, reusable and biodegradable.
• Paper straws, while still disposable, are biodegradable and from a renewable source.
• Glass straws are coming in durable, colorful designs fit for a variety of beverages.
• Stainless steel straws are an option for those of us who like our cold drinks really cold.

You can also volunteer to help clean up your local beaches, parks or neighborhoods. [Take note of how many plastic straws are included in all the litter]. If you frequent fast-food restaurants or get beverages to go, you can request your beverage to be served sans straw. Do your part today to help the environment today by foregoing the straw in your beverage. Just think, if we were to celebrate National Skip the Straw Day every day, together, maybe we could bring down “Big Straw”.

Tortilla Chip Day

Tortilla chips are made from round corn or flour tortillas that are cut into wedges. The chips may be either fried or baked. Tortilla chips are considered a Mexican food, however, they originated in Los Angeles. During the late 1940’s the Carranza’s, a couple who ran a tortilla factory came up with the idea to cut ‘misshaped’ tortillas into triangles and fry them. They sold them by the bag for 10¢ each and the rest is history. Soon, the lowly tortilla chip began to compete with the major brands of corn chips (Fritos, et al). To celebrate, try making some fresh tortilla chips at home. Here is a simple recipe.
Factoid:  In 2003, the state of Texas made the tortilla chip their official state snack.

More Holidays

International STAND UP to Bullying Day – Last Friday in February and the third Friday in November.

National Trading Card Day

On This Date

• In 1582 – Pope Gregory XIII orders the introduction of the Gregorian calendar. His reform of the Julian calendar was first introduced in some European countries and is now the world’s most widely used calendar.
• In 1607 – The world’s first opera premiered. Claudio Monteverdi’s “L’Orfeo” is still performed regularly today.
• In 1803 – The Supreme Court ruled itself to be the final interpreter of all constitutional issues.
• In 1839 – William S. Otis received a patent for the steam shovel. His steam shovel revolutionized the construction and mining industries and was an integral part of the expansion of the railroad system in America. Alas, Mr. Otis never saw his invention reach its true potential. He died later that year of Typhoid Fever. He was just 26 years old.
• In 1857 – The first shipment of perforated postage stamps was received by the United States Government.
• In 1863 –  Arizona was organized as a territory.
• In 1868 – The first parade to use floats occurred in New Orleans at Mardi Gras.
• In 1868 – The House of Representatives impeached President Andrew Johnson due to his attempt to dismiss Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. The Senate later acquitted Johnson.
• In 1903 – In Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, an area was leased to the United States for a naval base.
• In 1920 – The German nazi party was founded. Adolf Hitler became the party’s leader in 1921.
• In 1938 – The first nylon bristle toothbrush was made. It was the first time that nylon yarn had been used commercially.
• In 1942 – The United States Government stopped shipments of all 12-gauge shotguns for sporting use due to the need for gunpowder during WWII.
• In 1942 – The Voice of America (VOA) aired for the first time.
• In 1956 – The city of Cleveland invoked a 1931 law that barred people under the age of 18 from dancing in public without an adult guardian.
• In 1981 – Buckingham Palace announced the engagement of Britain’s Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer.
• In 1988 – The Supreme Court overturned a $200,000 award to Rev. Jerry Falwell that had been won against “Hustler” magazine. The ruling expanded legal protections for parody and satire.
• In 1989 – Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini sentenced Salman Rushdie to death for his novel “The Satanic Verses”. A bounty of one-million-dollars was also put on Rushdie’s head.
• In 1989 – A Boeing 747 jumbo jet ripped open over the Pacific Ocean. United Airlines Flight 811 experienced an explosive decompression, resulting in the death of 9 passengers.
• In 1992 – Tracy Gold began working on the set of “Growing Pains” again. She had left the show due to anorexia.
• In 1994 – Garrett Morris was shot during a robbery attempt in Los Angeles, CA. He eventually recovered from his injury.
• In 1997 – The Food and Drug Administration named six brands of birth control as safe and effective “morning-after” pills for preventing pregnancy.
• In 2008 – Cuba’s parliament named Raul Castro president. His brother Fidel had ruled for nearly 50 years.
• In 2010 – Sachin Tendulkar became the first cricket player to score a double-century in the One Day International format. The Indian cricketer is widely recognized as one of the greatest batsmen in the game.

Noteworthy Birthdays

If you were born on this date, Happy Birthday. You share your birthday with the following list of illustrious individuals – and about 20-million other people.

• Wilhelm Grimm 1786 – Author.
• Honus Wagner 1874 – Baseball player.
• Chester Nimitz 1885 – U.S. Navy Admiral.
• Marjorie Main 1890 – Actress.
• Zachary Scott 1914 – Actor.
• Abe Vigoda 1921 – Actor.
• Linda Cristal 1936 – Actress.
• James Farentino 1938 – Actor.
• George Harrison 1943 – Beatle.
• Sheila Larkin 1944 – Actress.
• Barry Bostwick 1945 – Actor.
• Rupert Holmes 1947 – Musician.
• Edward James Olmos 1947 – Actor.
• George Thorogood 1950 – Musician.
• Steven Jobs 1955 – Co-founder of Apple, Inc.
• Paula Zahn 1956 – TV journalist.
• Billy Zane 1966 – Actor.
• Bonnie Somerville 1974 – Actress.