2013 Holidays

In Honor of
National Chocolate Ice Cream Day
June 7th

IT'S NATIONAL CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM DAY! Yes, on June 7 the world celebrates what only fools and scoundrels would deny is the finest flavor of ice cream.

Culinary historians believe that the first ice cream flavors were fruit-based, but by the 18th century both vanilla and chocolate were quite common. Thomas Jefferson took a fancy to ice cream while living abroad during the 1780s. (He was the ambassador to France at the time.) It is likely that he is responsible for bringing this delicious frozen treat to America!

If you are like me and plan on taking full advantage of this national holiday of great importance and offer some usual and unusual suggestions for celebrating the day.

In Honor of

F l a g D a y
JUNE 14th

FLAG DAY IS A DAY FOR ALL AMERICANS celebrate and show respect for our flag, its designers and makers. Our flag is representative of our independence and our unity as a nation.....one nation, under God, indivisible. Our flag has a proud and glorious history. It was at the lead of every battle fought by Americans. Many people have died protecting it. It even stands proudly on the surface of the moon.

As Americans, we have every right to be proud of our culture, our nation, and our flag. So raise the flag today and every day with pride!

There is a right way and a wrong way to display the flag. The American flag should be held in the highest of regards. It represents our nation and the many people who gave their lives for our country and our flag. Here are the basics on displaying the American flag:

The flag is normally flown from sunrise to sunset.
In the morning, raise the flag briskly. At sunset, lower it slowly. Always, raise and lower it ceremoniously.
The flag should not be flown at night without a light on it.
The flag should not be flown in the rain or inclement weather.
After a tragedy or death, the flag is flown at half staff for 30 days.
When flown vertically on a pole, the stars and blue field, or "union", is at the top and at the end of the pole.
The American flag is always flown at the top of the pole. Your state flag and other flags fly below it.
The union is always on top. When displayed in print, the stars and blue field are always on the left.
Never let your flag touch the ground, never period.
Fold your flag when storing. Don't just stuff it in a drawer or box.
When your flag is old and has seen better days, it is time to retire it. Old flags should be burned or buried. Please do not throw it in the trash.

In Honor of

Father's Day
June18th

A FATHER IS MORE THAN THE BIOLOGICAL PATERNAL SOURCE of our being. It is the person who cares and provides for us. It is the man who helps to set the standards, the family values, and the example. So add to this group, step fathers and other men who willingly and eagerly accept and cherish the role. Whether biological, adopted or informal, if they are the father figure to you, give him some recognition today and don't hesitate to call him "Dad".

Dadisms are dad's favourite lines said in typical style and tone to teach us basics of life. Howsoever hard sounding Dadism may be, they go a long way to teach us invaluable lessons. We might not like to take this advice from dad as a kid; but quite ironically, we tend to use the same lines with our own children. And, it is only then that we realize the real worth of Dadisms.

Stop crying or I'll give you a reason to cry.
You're gonna like it, whether you like it or not!
If your friend jumped off a bridge would you?
What part of NO don't you understand?
I don't care what other people are doing! I'm not everybody else's father!
Don't make me stop the car!
Go ask your mother!
Because I'm the Dad, that's why!
I brought you into this world, and I can take you out!
I'm a Dad, I know everything.
Do you think money grows on trees?
Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.
Be sure you leave things better than you found them.
If you don't have time to do it right, how on earth will you ever find time to do it over.

In Honor of
National Splurge Day
June 18th

NATIONAL SPLURGE DAY IS A DAY TO TREAT YOURSELF excessively, to anything you want. And, to excess if you desire. Isn't that a great thing? Maybe, you're on a diet, and that special dessert is too many calories. Maybe, you want to buy a steak, and the budget is a little tight. Toss out the reservations, and go for it today.

Just in case you need help with splurging, I've prepared a video of the perfect way to indulge yourself!

Even if Necker doesn't appeal to you--at least not at this moment--after reading about the "perfect splurge," you should have no problem eatting a second dessert or buying an extra shirt. In other words, celebrate this day to the fullest degree. Treat yourself to whatever you want and to excess. For, this is a day to splurge. Do so without worry or concern . . . until tomorrow.

In Honor of

Paul Bunyan Day
June 28th

MANY THE TALES OF PAUL BUNYAN and his blue ox “Babe” originated in the lumberjack industry and logging communities. Like all good folklore, it was passed from generation to generation by word of mouth. Over campfires, his legend grew; and wondrous stories were created. Written tales emerged in the early 1900's.

Paul Bunyan is "credited" with many deeds. Among his more legendary feats:

He created logging in the U.S.
He scooped out the great lakes to water Babe, his ox.
He cleared the entire states of North and South Dakota for farming.
He trained ants to do logging work. They were, of course, Carpenter Ants.
Babe's large footprints created Minnesota's 10,000 lakes.
He is best known for his logging feats. Paul Bunyan was a gigantic lumberjack of American Folklore.

Celebrate Paul Bunyan Day in a giant way; he would expect you to!

In Honor of
Meteor Watch Day
June 30th

A METEOR SHOWER IS A SPIKE in the number of meteors or "shooting stars" that streak through the night sky, and many of these showers are spawned by comets. As a comet orbits the sun, it sheds an icy, dusty debris stream; and if the Earth travels through this stream, we see a meteor shower.

Although the meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, tracing their paths reveals that meteors appear to "rain" from a particular region. The practice is to name these showers after the constellation that coincides with this region, a spot known as the radiant. For instance, the radiant for the Leonid meteor shower is in the constellation Leo. The Perseid metor shower is so named because meteors appear to fall from a point in the constellation Perseus.

Traveling at tens of thousands of miles an hour and about 30 to 80 miles above the ground, meteors quickly ignite from the searing friction with the atmosphere. Almost all are destroyed in this process. The rare few that survive and hit the ground are known as meteorites.

NOTE: The next meteorshower is the Perseids on the nights of
August 11 and 12, 2013

In Honor of
Independence Day
July 4th

https://youtu.be/gZIMgKa1SWo

KNOWN AS THE FOURTH OF JULY AND/OR INDEPENDENCE DAY, July 4th has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941. The tradition of Independence Day celebrations, however, goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution.

In June 1776, representatives of the thirteen colonies, then fighting in a revolutionary struggle, weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence; and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson.

From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades, and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.

Happy Birthday, America!

In Honor of
Chocolate Day
July 7th

CHOCOLATE IS AMERICA'S FLAVOR-OR-CHOICE in candies, ice cream, cakes, breakfast cereal, toppings, and a whole host of desserts. Unequaled in popularity, it certainly deserves a day in it's an honor, and we are obligated to observe it properly.

When planning your menu today it's a good thing to know that chocolate is a vegetable and contains heart-heathy flavonoids and antioxidants.

We don't need to tell you what to do to celebrate this day, do we? Eat Chocolate!

May we offer these suggestions for your menu today:

BREAKFAST
Three chocolate chip pancakes or chocolate waffles*
or for a light breakfast
3/4 cup of Cocoa Puffs with skim milk
Wash either down with hot chocolate coffee.

MID-MORNING SNACK
Either or a double chocolate muffin or for a lighter snack, a chocolate candy bar--nuts optional. Add chocolate milk, and you'll have
a boost to last until lunch.

LUNCH
Pinto bean mole chili,* chocolate ice cream, and hot chocolate
or for a light lunch
Spinach salad with mangos, dried cranberries and chocolate vinaigrette* Chocolate sorbet for dessert, and water to drink

MID-AFTERNOON SNACK
Eat healthy with some chocolate covered raisins--These contains both vegetable and fruit--and a hot cup of chocolate tea.

DINNER
Rosemary Beef Medallions with chocolate sauce.* Chocolate flavored coffee is a must with dinner. Dessert is none other than chocolate cake.

NIGHT TIME SNACK
Chocolate-bannana smoothie

Don't want any of you stressed out about how to make the above chocolate delicacies so I have posted the recipes for those items with an asterisk following their name on FENGER FORUMS. Just copy and paste the following link: https://www.fengerjune1958.com/class_forums_messages.cfm?tid=35885

POST ON NEW FORUM AND PROVIDE LINK FROM HOME PAGE TO FORUM

CHOCOLATE DAY RECIPES

*CHCOLATE WAFFLES
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons vegetable shortening
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup chocolate syrup, plus more for topping
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cooking spray
Confectioners' sugar and/or berries, for topping (optional)

1. Melt the butter and shortening in a small saucepan, stirring to combine; remove from the heat and set aside. Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a large bowl.
2. Whisk the eggs, milk, chocolate syrup and vanilla in a large liquid measuring cup or a separate bowl. Whisk the egg mixture into the flour mixture until combined. (The batter will be slightly lumpy.) Whisk in the butter mixture until combined.
3. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Preheat a waffle iron and spray with cooking spray. Ladle some of the batter into the waffle iron to within an inch of the edge (1/3 to 1/2 cup batter, depending on your waffle iron); cook until crisp. Transfer the waffle to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with the remaining batter.
4. Divide the waffles among plates. Dust with confectioners'sugar and top with berries and/or chocolate syrup.

from the Food Network

*PINTO BEAN MOLE CHILI
2 medium dried ancho chiles, wiped clean
1 dried chipotle chile, wiped clean
1 teaspoon cumin seed, toasted and cooled
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 medium onions, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 zucchini or 3 yellow squash, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 lb kale, stems and center ribs discarded and leaves coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon orange zest, grated
1/8 teaspoon sugar
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped (3 tablespoons)
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can tomatoes with juice, drained, reserving juice, and chopped
1 1/4 cups water
3 (15 ounce) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1. Slit chiles lengthwise, then stem and seed. Heat a dry heavy medium skillet over medium heat until hot, then toast chiles, opened flat, turning and pressing with tongs, until pliable and slightly changed in color, about 30 seconds. Tear into small pieces.
2. Pulse cumin seeds and chiles in grinder until finely ground. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in oregano, cinnamon, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt.
3. Cook onions in oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute, then add chile mixture and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Stir in zucchini and kale and cook, covered, 5 minutes. Add zest, sugar, chocolate, tomatoes with their juice, and water and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
4. Stir in beans and simmer 5 minutes. Season with salt.
from Epicurious.com

*CHOCOLATE VINAIGRETTE
In a large bowl whisk together cocoa powder, sugar and vinaigrette. Add spinach and toss to coat. Add mango, cranberries and walnuts. Toss together and transfer to a serving dish.
from Yummly.com

*ROSEMARY BEEF MEDALLIONS
1 pound beef tenderloin
2 tablespoons butter, divided
1/2 teaspoon cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
1/4 cup dry red wine or beef broth

1. Cut the tenderloin into 3/4 inch slices.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter in a skillet over medium to high heat.
3. Saute the tenderloin for 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Turn only once.
4. Saute until brown and center is medium rare.
5. Remove to a warm platter and keep warm.
6. Cook and stir remaining butter, cocoa powder, salt, garlic, and rosemary in skillet until bubbly.
7. Gradually stir in wine or beef broth.
8. Heat until it's starts boiling. Let boil for about 1 minute.
9. Serve over the beef tenderloin.
from Food.com

*CHOCOLATE BANNANA SMOOTHIE
2 cups cold 2% low-fat milk
1 (1 1/2 ounce) package sugar-free instant chocolate pudding mix
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
2 large ripe frozen bananas, sliced
2 cups crushed ice, coarsely chopped

1. In blender, combine the milk, pudding mix and vanilla; cover and process until blended.
2. Add the bananas and ice; cover and process until smooth.
3. Pour into chilled glasses; serve immediately.

from Food.com

In Honor of
Bastille Day
July 14th

THE FRENCH HOLIDAY FETE DE LA FEDERATION was first held on July 14, 1790, the first anniversary of the storming of the prison at Bastille. The overtaking of the Bastille symbolizes the end of the constitutional monarchy and the beginning of the democratic republic of France. To Frenchmen, Bastille Day is viewed as their liberation.

Unfortunately, the French Revolution—the people’s revolution—came to a definitive, if unexpected, end with a dictatorship in 1804. Napoleon Bonaparte famously took the crown from the hands of the Pope and crowned himself Emperor of France.

In Honor of
National Moon Day
July 20th

THE APOLLO SPACE PROGRAM, begun by President John F. Kennedy, was created to ensure that an American would be the first man on the moon. Apollo 11, carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin Aldrin, Jr., fulfilled that dream on July 20, 1969.

Apollo 11 was launched from Cape Kennedy Space Center atop a huge Saturn V rocket on July 16, 1969. Four days later, with live feed from the spaceship, the world watched on their televisions, as the Lunar Module, nicknamed the Eagle, touched down on on the Moon's surface. Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong announced to all of us, "The Eagle Has Landed."

A few hours later we again sat glued to our televisions as Neil Armstrong stepped off of the Eagle's ladder, placed one foot upon the moon's surface, and proclaimed, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."

Relive this proud and historic day with the above video.

In Honor of
National Lasagana Day
July 29th

NATIONAL LASAGNA DAY IS TODAY!* We hope you have a big appetite. Sure, it's July. It’s hot and humid. Cooking up a pan of Lasagna will make the kitchen a lot hotter. But as it cooks, the smell will waft throughout the house. Your mouth will begin to water. When dinner time arrives, you will have a huge appetite for a huge piece of lasagna. Of this, you can be certain.

Lasagna is a favorite Italian dish. In between multiple layers of lasagna pasta are generous amounts of tomato sauce, cheeses, and sometimes hamburger and/or Italian sausage. It’s the favorite Italian dish of millions of Americans. We all would eat it more often; but this culinary work of art, made with loving hands, takes time to make and bake.

It is best to celebrate National Lasagna Day by baking the lasagna that you will eat today. If you don't have the time or the weather is just too hot, then head out to your favorite Italian restaurant.

* July 29th is also my birthday; and so I'm sharing our Ol' Family Recipe with all of you. But note, I only guarrantee it will be the best lasagna you've ever had if you follow every step of the recipe--no short cuts!

POST ON NEW FORUM AND PROVIDE LINK FROM HOME PAGE TO FORUM

OL' ITALIAN FAMILY LASAGNA RECIPE

Remember, No Shortcuts!

MOST EXCELLENT LASAGNA

The Meatballs (Hint: Also excellent as meatloaf or hamburgers)

1½ lbs ground beef
2 eggs or ¼ C egg beaters
½ C chopped onions
¼ C chopped fresh parsley
½ t salt (optional)

½ t pepper
½ C (or so) breadcrumbs
1 t fennel
Oregano
2 T olive oil

Mix all ingredients except oregano and olive oil and form into balls. Brown sausage and meatballs in olive oil in frying pan; sprinkle both sides heavily with oregano while browning. Remove and set aside in bowl.

The Sauce

2-28 oz cans of crushed tomatoes
1 can water
4-6" piece hot Italian sausage or
pinch of red pepper
1 t salt (optional)

½ C chopped fresh parsley
1 large bay leaf
1 t fennel
1 t black pepper
½ t basil

Place all ingredients in a 6 qt sauce pan. Add about 1½ cup of water to browning pan and scrape bottom as water boils. Place the scrapings into sauce pan. Stir to mix everything together, bring to a boil, turn down to simmer for about 2-2½ hours. Add water if it thickens too quickly.

Next add meatballs and sausage to sauce. Add about ½ cup of water to bowl, scrape, and add to sauce. Simmer at least ½ hour more. (Add water if it thickens too quickly.) Continue to simmer until desired consistency or that of a cheese sauce.

Recipe makes enough sauce for 2 pounds of macaroni or 1 pound of lasagna.

The Lasagna

1 lb. lasagna
½ l lb. ricotta
2 eggs or ½ C egg beater
½ C chopped parsley
¼ t freshly ground pepper
½ t salt (optional)

1 lb. sliced mozzarella
Hunk of fresh Romano cheese to
grate
½ lb. sliced mushrooms
Excellent Meatballs (Recipe above)
Excellent Sauce (Recipe above)

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Take 3 meatballs and the piece of sausage and put aside for snacking. Mash the rest of the meatballs in a bowl with a fork. Add mashed meatballs and sliced mushrooms to sauce; heat thoroughly. Take care that the mixture does not become too thick. Add water if it does.

Fill 10-12 qt. pan about 2/3 with hot water, add 1 T olive oil to prevent pasta from sticking, and bring to rolling boil over high heat. Add lasagna and stir until water is again boiling.

Stir every so often or stir continuously to keep pasta moving in pan. Remove when cooked al dente, drain in colander, and shake lightly to help drain water. Do NOT rinse; in fact, NEVER rinse any kind of pasta!

Mix eggs with a fork. To ricotta add eggs or egg beater, parsley, salt if desired, and pepper; mix well with fork or wire whisk. Separate ricotta mixture into 3 piles. (Note: This can done earlier in the day and refrigerated until you are ready to assemble the lasagna.)

Separate 1 lb. of sliced mozzarella into 3 piles.

Lightly grease pan with olive oil. Cover pan with thin layer of meat-mushroom sauce.

Layer 3 times in this order:

1. Pasta
2. Ricotta mixture
3. Sliced mozzarella
4. Meat-mushroom sauce

The final layer of sauce should completely cover everything. (NOTE: Judging how much sauce to use per layer is difficult. I always skimp on the bottom layers to be sure I’ll have enough to cover the top.)

Generously grate fresh Romano cheese over final sauce layer. (Do NOT cover as shown in the video on our Home Page.)

Place in pre-heated oven and cook for approximately 45 minutes. Check during the final 15 minutes to keep from becoming too dry.

I suppose you should let the cooked lasagna stand for about 10 minutes before eating; but if your family is like mine, you can skip this step.

Yes, this is a lot of work; but it's worth it. However, I only make it once a year now--usually for Christmas Eve.

In Honor of
National Watermelon Day
August 3rd

WATERMELONS ARE A FAVORITE AMONG AMERICANS, and people just cannot seem to get enough of this fruit. To be sure you're not disappointed when buying a watermelon, follow these tips when making your selection: the melon should be symmetrical with no cuts and bruises; the outer skin should have a healthy sheen, a dull rind, and a dull yellow spot on its underside where it touched the ground; you should hear a dull and hollow sound when thumping a watermelon; the weight of the watermelon should be heavy in relation to its size.

Did you know?

Watermelon is actually a vegetable and not a fruit. It is related to the pumpkin, cucumber, and the squash.
Watermelon consists of 92% water and 8% sugar.
Every part of the watermelon, including the seeds and the rind is edible.
Watermelons are ideal for the health as they do not contain any fat or cholesterol and are high in fiber content and vitamins A and C and are also a good source of potassium.
Over 1200 varieties of watermelon are grown in approximately 100 countries across the world.
As watermelon is about 92% water, early explorers used watermelons as a canteen.
Watermelons are very fragile and cannot be harvested with the help of machines. Instead they are carefully tossed by workers on a relay that runs between the fields and the truck.
Bill Carson of Arrington, Tennessee grew a 262 pound watermelon in 1990. This feat found a place in the 1998 edition of the Guinness World Book of Records.

In Honor of
National Left-Hander's Day
August 13th

LEFT-HANDERS, ALSO COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS SOUTHPAWS, are the brunt of more than their share of jokes all year long. The world is built for right-handers which makes it very difficult to be left-handed. The reasoning, I guess, is because only about 10% of the population is left-handed, which may be valid or not. Without a doubt, lefties do have it tough, and examples are everywhere:

Left-Hander's certainly earned the right to have a day dedicated to them, and August 13th is that day. So, take a minute to appreciate your left-handed friends and loved ones.

In school, have you ever seen a left handed desk?
(They don't exist.)
Many left handed items cost more.
Novelty coffee mugs are made with the picture or text for a right handed pick-up.
Scissors are made for right-handers only.
(Only a lefty would understand this.)
The computer mouse you are using as you read this is designed for right-handers.

Left-Hander's certainly have earned the right to have a day dedicated to them, and August 13th is that day. So, take a minute to appreciate your left-handed friends and loved ones.

;

Did you Know? Right handed people operate in the left side of the brain. Left handed people use the right side. Therefore, only left handed people are in their right mind.

In Honor of
National Senior Citizens Day
August 21

NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZENS DAY HONORS OUR ELDERLY POPULATION. On this day, we are encouraged to recognize and show appreciation for the value and contribution of elderly people to home, family, and society.

In his Presidential Proclamation (August 19, 1988), President Ronald Reagan said "For all they have achieved throughout life and for all they continue to accomplish, we owe older citizens our thanks and a heartfelt salute. We can best demonstrate our gratitude and esteem by making sure that our communities are good places in which to mature and grow older."

If you are a senior citizen, enjoy your day any way you desire. After all, this is your day! Make sure to take advantage of senior citizens specials and discounts. There's bound to be plenty offers today.

Quotes to Share on National Senior Citizens Day

“Aging is a life-spanning process of growth and development from birth to death. Old age is an integral part of the whole, bringing fulfilment and self-actualization. I regard aging as a triumph, a result of strength and survivorship,” by Margaret Kuhn
“Our society automatically scraps people just like old automobiles. It’s the Detroit syndrome, but the latest models are not always the best,” by Margaret Kuhn
“Youth longs and manhood strives, but age remembers,” by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
“I believe that everybody my age is an adult, while I am merely in disguise,” by Margaret Atwood
“Growing old is like being increasingly punished for a crime you didn’t commit,” by Anthony Powell
“One of the delights known to age and beyond the grasp of youth is that of Not Going,” by Anthony Burgess
“At my age I don’t need drugs anymore. I can get the same effect by standing up real fast,” by Jonathan Katz
“Never trust anyone under eighty,” by Carol Brightman
“Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter,” by Satchel Paige
“I’m not interested in age. People who tell their age are silly. You’re as old as you feel,” by Elizabeth Arden
“My mother always used to say: ‘the older you get, the better you get, unless you’re a banana,’” by Rose Nylund from The Golden Girls
“To be seventy years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old,” by Oliver Wendell Holmes

In Honor of
National Dog Day
August 26th

NATIONAL DOG DAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US to recognize and appreciate the value and importance of dogs in our lives. The National Dog Day Foundation, who was instrumental in creating this special day for dogs, urges us to recognize and appreciate the value of dogs in our lives and to rescue those dogs who fall victim to homelessness and abuse.

National Dog Day was created by the National Dog Day Foundation. Their motto is "Saving 10,000 Dogs - One Day at a Time".

In Honor of
L a b o r D a y
September 4th

LABOR DAY: Dedicated in honor of the worker, it is also appropriately called the "workingman's holiday." This day is dedicated to you, in respect and appreciation for the work you do--in or outside of the home, union or non-union, big company, small companies, or government. As long as you work somewhere at something, this holiday is for you!

Labor Day is also viewed as the official end of summer. While the Fall Equinox is still a couple of weeks away, summer vacations are now over and kids will be going back to school. Many people celebrate this weekend with one last picnic, or they will "labor" and close up their pools and put away their boats.

In Honor of
Newspaper Carrier Day
September 4th

Query: What do Wayne Gretzky, Harry S. Truman, Walt Disney, Cardinal Francis J. Spellman, Bing Crosby, and (Classmate Name) have in common?

THWACK! That's the sound of an expertly tossed newspaper hitting the sweet spot of your bushes - all the more impressive when you consider that from the handlebars of a bicycle, your landscaping is a moving target. Okay, so maybe newspaper carriers nowadays are more likely to rely on gas pedals than bike pedals.

Still, let us cherish the memories of a simpler time. September 4 is Newspaper Carrier Day, which marks the anniversary of 10-year-old Barney Flaherty being hired by the New York Sun as the country's first paperboy in 1833.

Many former newspaper carriers have achieved great success in business, entertainment, politics and the press. Wayne Gretzky, Harry S. Truman, Walt Disney, Cardinal Francis J. Spellman, and Bing Crosby are among the dozens of former carriers who are now part of the Newspaper Carrier Hall of Fame. The Hall was begun in 1960 by the International Circulation Managers Association to recognize former newspaper carriers who have achieved national prominence. Therefore, it is with great pride I nominate the following Fengerites to join this distinguished body and propose they be enshrined in their own wing to be known as Fenger News Carrier Hall of Fame:

AND

In Honor of
National Grandparent's Day
September 11th

IT IS ONLY RIGHT AND FITTING one day of the year is set aside to honor our grandparents. It is a time to celebrate those special people who are always there with a hug, a kiss, a cookie, or who are always eager to listen to whatever you have to say.

So, Grandchildren: Visit or phone today. Let your grandparents know you're thinking about them.

And, Grandparents: You can also visit or phone. But also, take a moment to reminisce about the wonderful moments you've shared with your grandchildren.

National Grandparent's Day originated in 1978. Then President Jimmy Carter declared it to be the first Sunday after Labor Day.

In Honor of

Remembrance Day - 9/11

September 11th

<center><iframe width="600" height="450" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/2hYh8pRzty0" frameborder="0"

allowfullscreen></iframe></center>

I DOUBT ANYONE WILL EVER FORGET WHERE THEY WERE on the morning of September 11, 2001, when they heard of the attacks on the twin World Trade Towers in NYC and the Pentagon in Washington. This horrible and tragic day is etched forever in our memories.

. Like the attack on Pearl Harbor that brought us into World War II, the 911 attacks led us into a new war . . the war on terrorism. It also touched and changed forever, the lives of every American

On the anniversary of 911, we encourage you to spend a few minutes reflecting upon this event, and praying

for the victims who died, and their families and friends .*

9/11 DEATHS
Tower Victims	2606
Pentagon Victims	125
PA Plane Crash	40
Militants	19
Total Victims	2977

*Deaths included Americans and citizens from many other country.

In Honor of

National Cheeseburger Day
September 18th

NATIONAL CHEESEBURGER DAY IS ALMOST HERE so let's top off America's favorite sandwich, with a piece of cheese. You can celebrate National Cheeseburger Day by firing up the grill or broiler, and cooking cheeseburgers. You can do so for lunch or dinner . . . or both! Any kind of cheese will do. Try a different cheese, if you're adventuresome. For the carb conscious, eat your burgers without the buns

In Honor of
International Rabbit Day
September 23rd

DID YOU KNOW THAT WORLD-WIDE, rabbits are the third most popular pet, behind dogs and cats? Therefore, it can be no surprise they have a day set aside for just for them.

International Rabbit Day actively promotes the protection of rabbits, both in the wild and in the home as pets. The main objective for this special holiday, according to the many animal rights groups and humane societies which support this day, are to promote healthy, caring environments for rabbits. Other objectives include haulting the use of rabbit furs and the presence of rabbit on restaurant menus.

Even though you may not have had a pet rabbit, you undoubtably have chuckled a time or two at everyone’s favorite cartoon rabbit Bugs Bunny. Mel Blanc, who supplied the voice for Bugs, has said that recording the "What's up, Doc?" line turned out to be the most physically challenging part of doing the voice because the signature line was incomplete without the sound of the rabbit nibbling on a carrot.

"First of all, I don't especially like carrots, at least not raw," admitted Blanc. "And second, I found it impossible to chew, swallow, and be ready to say my next line.

"We tried substituting other vegetables, including apples and celery, with unsatisfactory results. The solution was to stop recording so that I could spit out the carrot into the wastebasket and then proceed with the script. In the course of a recording session I usually went through enough carrots to fill several wastebaskets."

Interestingly, there were pressures from outside the studio to switch from carrots. The Utah Celery Company of Salt Lake City offered to keep all the studio's staffers well supplied with their product if Bugs would only switch from carrots to celery. The Broccoli Institute of America strongly urged Bugs to sample their product--at least occasionaly. Mel Blanc would have been happy to switch, but carrots were Bugs's trademark. It's been said that Bugs Bunny did for carrots what Popeye did for spinach.

You may not know all the facts about this legendary cartoon character so below are some impressive stats that Bugs has earned over the years.

Since 1939, he has starred in more than 175 films.

In 1985 he became only the 2nd cartoon character to be given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Mickey Mouse was the first).

For almost 30 years, starting in 1960, he had one of the top-rated shows in Saturday morning TV.

In 1976, when researchers polled Americans on their favorite characters, real and imaginary, Bugs came in second--behind Abraham Lincoln.

Every year from 1945 to 1961, he was voted "top animated character" by movie theater owners (when they still showed cartoons in theaters).

He's been nominated for three Oscars, and won one -in 1958, for "Knighty Knight, Bugs" (with Yosemite Sam).

A clip from his Oscar winning picture "Knighty Knight, Bugs"

In Honor of
National Comic Book Day
September 25th

IF OUR RECENT QUIZ ON COMIC BOOKS didn't remind you how much fun they were in our young lives, the video above certainly will. Soon it will be National Comic Book Day, a day to remember the thrill of owning, borrowing, trading for, and reading a new 4-color mini-book that guaranteed entertainment.

As we enjoyed ourselves with our comic books, controversy erupted over the effects they were having on America's youth. Dr. Fredric Wertham, M.D., a highly distinguished psychologist thought comic books were bad for kids.

He publised Seduction of the Innocent in 1954, and maintained that in his studies with children, he found comic books to be a major cause of juvenile delinquency. Today's scolars believe that his assertion was based mostly on guilt by association. The vast majority of kids in those days read comic books, including the ones who became delinquents. But according to Dr. Wertham, comic books caused the children to become delinquents.

Wertham felt comics went much further than just turning kids into juvenile delinquents. They were giving kids wrong ideas about the laws of physics because Superman could fly. He also charged that comic books were implementing and re-enforcing homosexual thoughts because Robin was drawn with bare legs, that were often wide open, and that Robin seemed devoted and attached to only Batman. Dr. Wertham also stated that Wonder Woman was giving little girls the 'wrong ideas' about a woman's place in society.

The answer to the Wertham's criticism, the subsequent Congressional hearings, and the mass burning of comic books led The Comics Magazine Association of America (CMAA) to devise a code of ethics and standards for the comic book industry called the Comics Code Authority (CCA). Self-regulation was deemed preferable to government intervention.

Among many new restrictions to published content were the protection of police, judges, and government officials, so as not to foster disrespect for authority along with the banning of excessive violence, and illicit sex relations. The old horror standards such as vampires, werewolves, and other ghouls were also deemed unsavory and not allowed.

History of the comic book industry has been portrayed in an excellent ninety minute program by the History Channel. You can find it, divided into nine parts at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdEP1_njs6w.

PLACE THE FOLLOWING COMIC BOOK QUIZ IN A SURVEY IF DESIRED.
(All correct answers are "a" so be sure to chang order.)

1. Who was the first superhero?

a. Superman

b. Batman

c. The Yellow Kid

d. Captain Marvel

2. What does the D C in DC Comics stand for?
a. Detective Comics

b. Delcroit Comics

c. Disney Comics

d. Danger Connection

3. Batman‘s super powers include:

a. Neither of the above

b. Both of the above

c. Punches that “ring bells”

d. Ability to fly

4. How does the “Power Ring” work for the comic book character The Green Lantern?

a. Translates his ideas into energy

b. Grants one wish a day

c. EnvelopEs him with an invisible cloak

d. Summons Superman

5. Who are Donald Duck’s three nephews?

a. Huey, Dewy, and Louie

b. Dickey, Ricky, and Mickey

c. Matt, Nat, and Pat

d. Freddie, Eddie, and Teddy

6. What was the name of the only comic book character to be killed up by a law suit?

a. Captain Marvel

b. Flash Man

c. Tom Mix

d. Tales from the Crypt

7. Billy Batson used which of the following magic words to transform him into Captain Marvel?

a. Shazam!

b. Presto!

c. Eureka!

d. Abracadabra!

8. Which comic book publisher caused the U.S. Congress to hold hearings about its contents?

a. EC Comics

b. BC Comics

c. DC Comics

d. LC Comics

9. Who was the popular love interest of both Veronica Lodge and Betty Cooper?

a. Archie Andrews

b. Jack Armstrong

c. Jimmy Barton

d. Henry Aldrich

10. Which popular comic book, which always sold out upon its release, changed from a comic book to a magazine format to bypass the Comics Code Authority’s strict guidelines?

a. Mad

b. Superman

c. Looney Tunes

d. Tales from the Crypt

11. Who described Bugs Bunny as a “wascally wabbit?”

a. Elmer Fudd

b. Mickey Mouse

c. Tweety

d. Woody Woodpecker

12. Story lines from literature including H.P. Lovecraft’s The Terrible Old Man, Arthur Machen’s Novel of the White Powder, Oscar Wilde's The Portrait of Dorian Gray, and many more were the basis for plots of which publishing company?

a. EC Comics

b. Marvel Comics

c. DC Comics

d. Disney Comics

13. Who was Superman’s archenemy?

a. Lex Luthor

b. Zatara, the Magician

c. The Riddler

d. Gotham’s Ghost

14. Possessing bulletproof bracelets and superhuman strength and speed, which star-spangled heroine fights evil on Earth?

a. Wonder Woman

b. Diana Prince

c. Super Woman

d. Dragon Lady, USA

15. Who is this?

a. Lois Lane

b. Wonder Woman

c. Veronica Lodge

d. Wonder Girl

16. Who is this?

a. Scrooge McDuck

b. Donald Duck, Sr.

c. Daffy Duck

d. Sir Winston Duck

17. Who is this ?

a. Jughead Jones

b. Dick Grayson

c. Kato

d. SuperKid

18. Who is this?

a. Hosts of Horror

b. Witches of Macbeth

c. Terrible Threesome

d. Tyrants for Terror

19. Who is this?

a. Lex Luthor

b. Mr. Freeze

c. Yellow Kid

d. Mr. Doom

20. Who is this?

a. Taz

b. Big Bad Wolf

c. Wiley Coyote

d. Maximilian

In Honor of
National Ask a Stupid Question Day
September 28th

SOON IT WILL BE ASK A STUPID QUESTION DAY. It's your opportunity to speak up, and to ask all those questions you were afraid to ask. All those questions that you thought were too stupid or dumb to ask have been piling up all year long. Today is the day to unload them.

As I write this, I recall of one of the dumbest questions I encountered as a travel agent during my "working" days. I was quoting prices for hotel and airfare for a client who wished to go to Hawaii and visit several of the islands. When I told her what inner-island flights cost, she asked, "Well, can't I just drive between the islands?"

You probably have similar memories from your working days so click on the "Contact Us" tab above and tell me about them. I'll post them for all to see, and we'll all have a good laugh at some unknown's expense. Meanwhile, take a look at this video that relates some of the stupid questions that rangers field at our National Parks..

In Honor of
National Golf Lover's Day
October 4th

NATIONAL GOLF LOVER'S DAY IS A MAJOR CHARITABLE EVENT, sponsored annually since 1952 by the Professional Golf Association (PGA). The first event was held at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Lemont, IL. The first event raised $80,000 for charities, and celebrities Bob Hope, Dean Martin, and Jerry Lewis were in attendance.

Today, over 4,300 professional members of the PGA are encouraged to play golf with contributors. The entry fees of contributors go towards a wide range of charitable causes. Each year, a top ranked golfer is made chairman of this event. Many golf courses hold their own events, with the proceeds going to charities.

Now those of you who play golf know that the game isn't always kind to the player. For example . . .

In Honor of
Columbus Day

October 10th

FOR DECADES AND DECADES, American history books and school teaching ,told us that Christopher Columbus discovered America. What those books and teachings did not give credit to was the fact that Native Americans were already here first and truly discovered America. It also gave little mention to the fact that Nordic explorers had travelled down the eastern cost of Canada thousands of years earlier.

Today, we celebrate Columbus day for what it accurately is. Columbus did discover the existence of the New World for Europeans who until then, believed the world was flat and ended somewhere in the Atlantic. And, the focus is more upon discovery of the "New World", and less upon Columbus himself.

Some key facts (in case you forgot them since grade school):

Columbus Discovered America in 1492. He originally set sail on August 3, 1492, but had trouble with the ships, stopping at the Canary Islands for a month. The ships left the Canary Islands on September 3,1492.
He travelled with three ships: The Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.
While Columbus was an Italian, he could not find funding in Italy, so he turned to the King of Spain. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella provided the funding.
Christopher Columbus did not land on the U.S. mainland. He landed on an island in the Caribbean. While many believe he landed on San Salvador, there is still debate on which island he originally landed on.

In Honor of
S w e e t e s t D a y
October 19th

NOW HERE IS A DAY DEDICATED JUST FOR YOUR SWEETIE. It exists as an opportunity for you to recognize that sweet and special someone. It doesn’t matter who that person is, or what their relation to you. They just have to be "sweet" in order to get a little recognition.

Herbert Birch Kingston, a Cleveland, Ohio philanthropist and candy company employee started Sweetest Day. He wanted to bring happiness to orphans, shut-ins and under-privileged. His intent was to show these people that they were not forgotten. In 1922, he started this holiday by giving candy and small gifts. He often used movie stars to distribute the gifts.

The popularity of this holiday quickly spread. Today, is celebrated with loved ones and friends. However, we encourage you to follow the intent of the original holiday, and find ways to give candy and small gifts to those in need.

In Honor of
Mother-in-law Day
October 23th

IF YOU MISSED MOTHER'S DAY IN MAY, then here's another chance to honor your beloved Mother-In-Law. The source of many jokes, a mother-in-law doesn't usually get the praise and appreciation she deserves. So be kind: buy her a box of chocolates or just give her a hug and say she’s your favorite mother-in-law. You’ll get credit from both her and your spouse.

Speaking of mother-in-law jokes, the Internet must have millions so I decided to do a some research and compile a list of son and daughter-in-law jokes. I searched for hours and, I couldn’t believe how few I found. As a mother-in-law myself, I was horrified!

Hover your mouse over the right corner of the video to allow the pause button to appear. You can then stop and start the video as you wish.

I’m challenging each of you to find or make up some jokes. We’ll print them on our site—just for us mother and fathers-in-law to enjoy. (By the way, I didn’t find many father-in-law jokes either so if you want to find or make up some of those; I’d be happy to include them.)

To forward the jokes—without drawings are fine—just click on the “Contact Us” button at the top of our HOME PAGE. Type in your PG-rated offerings, and I’ll share with the rest of you. We must join together to overcome this outrage.

In Honor of
World Pasta Day
October 25th

“How to cook pasta perfectly” from America’s Test Kitchen

WORLD PASTA DAY was established as an annual event at the first World Pasta Congress held on October 25, 1995 in Rome, Italy. It is promoted by pasta manufacturers around the world. It should come as no surprise to discover that this special day promotes the consumption of pasta and seeks to increase awareness of the benefits of pasta.

Each year on World Pasta Day, the National Pasta Association and pasta manufacturers sponsor events and activities to help spread the world about pasta and it's nutritional value. Best of all, on this day you are encouraged to pile up your plate with a big dish of pasta and your favorite sauce!

There is some confusion about the proper way to cook pasta so we turn to America's Test Kitchen and since they cook pasta as my for their advice. And, because they cook pasta like my Italian grandmothers, we accept their method.

In Honor of

H a l l o w e e n
October 31st

HALLOWEEN IS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR! It is the favorite for many of us, as there is no stress, no overload, and no "Holiday Depression." It's just absolutely fun--at least that was true in the old days.

"Costumes were thrown together with clothes found at home. I was usually a gypsy with a old dress and shawl from my mom. Costume jewelry and real lipstick completed the outfit.

"Trick-or-treating never took place before dark, and no one would be caught dead in the company of a parent. We usually claimed treats both the 30th and 31st of October though some brave, greedy souls stretched the holiday into a third night.

"Handouts were wonderful, I remember. Mrs. Tammy usually had homemade popcorn balls, and the woman who never let us cut through her yard on the way to school always rewarded our consideration with freshly dipped caramel apples. Some neighbors made us sing for our treat, which we never liked because it slowed us down."

Yep, Halloween may still be fun, but not like the old days.

In Honor of
All Saints Day
November 1st

All Saints Day in Poland

THE CHRISTIAN HOLIDAY OF ALL SAINT'S DAY honors over 10,000 saints of the Christian church, many of which were martyrs. Historically, All Saints Day was known as Hallomas.

Originally, All Saints Day was celebrated in May. It was moved to November 1st to downplay the Pagan holiday of Halloween (All Hallow's Eve) because religious leaders felt that Halloween was too popular at the time to ban outright. They thought that if the Christian holiday was moved to this time period, the pagan holiday would slowly die away. . . .

In Honor of
Guy Fawkes Day/Gunpowder Day
November 5th

GUY FAWKES DAY AND GUN POWDER DAY ARE ONE AND THE SAME. It commemorates the infamous Gunpowder Conspiracy of 1605 in England. It was led by, you guessed it, Guy Fawkes.

In 1603, King James I took the throne in England. An avid Protestant, he forbid Catholics from practicing their religion and punished those who did not convert to the Protestant church.

The Gunpowder Conspirators were a group of Catholics who sought to take action against the king. They plotted to blow up the British Houses of Parliament when the king and his supporters were in the buildings. Their plot was uncovered on November 5, 1605 just as Fawkes was about to ignite thirty six barrels gunpowder in the basement of Parliament. Guy Fawkes, the leader of the conspiracy, was arrested and tortured until he confessed.

How do people in England celebrate Gunpowder Day? They do so, with fireworks and bonfires.

Thought for the Day: Are we celebrating Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators, for attempting to eliminate religious persecution? Or, are we celebrating the government's successful discovery of the plot, saving many lives? ...You make the call.

In Honor of
Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day
November 7th

WHAT LUCK! A day dedicated to my favorite food combination: Bittersweet (Dark) Chocolate and Almonds. And best of all, doctors everywhere are proclaiming that this delicious combo is nutritious!

National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day is today. Lucky you....lucky me.

#1. Bittersweet chocolate is a sweetened form of dark chocolate that does not contain milk in either liquid or dry form. It is essentially a mixture of chocolate liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, and sometimes vanilla. Recent studies have revealed certain health benefits from the regular consumption of small quantities of bittersweet chocolate. Due to its high cocoa content, dark chocolate is a good source of certain flavonoids — namely epicatechin and gallic acid — that may be protective of the heart.

#2. The almond is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia and is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree. Like many other nuts, almonds offer the body heart-protective benefits and may lower blood cholesterol levels as well as improve blood vessel function.

On November 7th, with both bittersweet chocolate and almonds having health benefits there is no reason why one should indulge in this tasty treat. On this special day, I will not question this logic . . . will you?

(Make mine Fannie May dark chocolate covered almond clusters, please.)

In Honor of
Chaos Never Dies Day
November 9^th

THERE ARE, LET'S FACE IT, QUITE A NUMBER OF DAYS dedicated to stress relief, calmness, and generally taking it easy. All of these days work on the premise that we’re too busy and need to step away from it all for a little while. But the world doesn’t work like that! We’re all busy, all the time; and nothing’s ever simple or quiet!

Chaos Never Dies Day takes the stance that the perfect, quiet moment we’re all striving for and anticipating doesn’t--and likely, never will--exist. It encourages us to make the most of now, chaos-and-all, and embrace the moment.

Thus, in the spirit of the day, accept that life is messy, surprising, and hectic. You can best celebrate this day, by recognizing that chaos never dies--rather, it’s a way of life.

There really isn't any right or wrong way to live through chaos. Just do it the easiest way you know how and keep your head up. Thinking positive will help some. If you feel you have to do something, you can partake in this special day, by putting just a little order back into your life. You can start, by picking one thing that is really disrupting your life, and change it . . . for the good, or not.

On the bright side

If you think your life is chaotic today, the holiday season is right around the corner!

In Honor of

Veterans Day
November 11^th

VETERAN'S DAY HONORS ALL MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES who have served this country and fought to preserve our way of life. Our fighting men and women, who have risked their lives and, in some cases, made the ultimate sacrifice, are remembered in official ceremonies or with private prayers to demonstrate the appreciation of this nation.

On November 11 at 11:11, 1921 the U.S. France and England each buried an unknown soldier in honor of those who died in World War I. This began the annual Armistice Day holiday. The time and day was picked because fighting ceased in WWI in 1918 on November 11 at 11:11. In keeping with this tradition, work stops on this day and time each year for a moment of silence.

Veteran's Day was called Armistice Day until 1954 when President Eisenhower changed the name to honor all military men and women who served and died in all our wars.

In Honor of
Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day
November 15th

EVERYTHING IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR WAS ONCE a fresh, healthy food ready for your consumption. Unfortunately over the course of a few days, or even weeks, things get pushed to the back of the refrigerator and slowly transform into something impossible to identify. We've all run across an item, or two, that became a dried out, mold-covered, smelly mess and had to be removed and disposed of at arm's length. Therefore, this next holiday, Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day, is an essential part of life.

The special day conveniently falls before the holidays--just in time to get the old, expired stuff out to make room for all those wonderful holiday favorites. And, we've gathered a few timely tips to help you safely and effectively with your chore.

1. The refrigerator should be set at 41°F or lower, and the freezer should be kept at 0°F or lower.

2. The concept of first in-first out ensures that expired food is out of the fridge when it expires. It is also important to refrain from opening new items before the old items parish.

3. Rather than using harsh, toxic cleaning solutions to clean the refrigerator, use lemon juice or white vinegar mixed with warm water.

4. Place an open box of Baking Soda on a shelf to keep odor out of your fridge.

5. Believe it or not you can’t just throw everything in the big, cold box. To maintain cleanliness and keep bacteria away, items need to be placed correctly. Any meat that is thawing needs to be placed on the bottom shelf to avoid dripping on the other food. Also, the back of the fridge is colder than the front so items, such as: dairy are often safer in the back.

6. When it comes to food safety, remember the the old saying, " When in doubt, throw it out!"

* For safe storage times go to FENGER FORUMS or copy and paste the following link:

https://www.fengerjune1958.com/class_forums_messages.cfm?tid=37516

In Honor of
Great American Smokeout Day
November 18th

THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY marks the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday of November each year by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By quitting — even for one day — smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life – one that can lead to reducing cancer risk.

When Smokers Quit — What Are the Benefits over Time? *

20 MINUTES AFTER QUITING:

Your blood pressure and pulse rate drop to normal. The temperature of your hands and feet increases to normal.

8 HOURS AFTER QUITTING:

The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal and the oxygen level in your blood increaqses to normal.

24 HOURS AFTER QUITTING:

Your chances of a heart attack decrease.

48 HOURS AFTER QUITTING:

Your senses of smell and taste improve.

72 HOURS AFTER QUITTING:

Your breathing passages relax, and breathing is easier.

2 WEEKS TO 3 MONTHS AFTER QUITTING:

Your blood circulation improves. Walking becomes easier. Your lung function increases up to 30%.

1 TO 9 MONTHS AFTER QUITTING:

Your coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decreaser; normal function in the lungs reduce risk of infection.

2 YEARS AFTER QUITTING:

Your heart and circulatory system improve.

5 YEARS AFTER QUITTING:

Your stroke risk is reduced to a non-smoker's.

10 YEARS AFTER QUITTING:

Your risk of mouth, larynx, kidney, esophagus, bladder, and pancreas cancer decreases. Your risk of lung cancer drops 1,000%.

15 YEARS AFTER QUITTING:

Your risk of coronary heart disease is the same as a non-smoker's.

* The University of Chicago Medical Center

In Honor of
T h a n k s g i v i n g
November 25th

TUCKED BETWEEN THE TWO MONSTER-SIZED HOLIDAYS of Halloween and Christmas, Thanksgiving receives far less attention. But Thanksgiving is a very important holiday, especially in the busy lives of Americans. It is a time to kick back and relax, watch a football game or go to a movie, and enjoy a huge feast.

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated between the Pilgrims and the Indians in 1621 and was a three day affair. Life for the early settlers had been difficult; the fall harvest was time for celebration and also a time to thank God for a good crop. The Pilgrims and the Indians created a huge feast including a wide variety of animals and fowl as well as fruits and vegetables from the fall harvest.

After the first Thanksgiving, the observance was sporadic and almost forgotten until the early 1800's. In 1941, Congress made it a national holiday and set the date as the fourth Thursday in November.

In Honor of
Black Friday
November 26^th

BLACK FRIDAY, OR RETAIL BLACK FRIDAY, IS THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING; and one of the two busiest shopping days of the year. (In case you didn't know, the other busiest shopping day is the day after Christmas, when throngs of shoppers mob the stores to use gift certificates and to exchange merchandise.)

Why Black? In the world of accountants, red signifies a loss and black signifies a profit. For many retailers, the Christmas holiday sales season represents one half to three quarters of their annual sales. Often, retailers are losing money until holiday sales begin on the day after Thanksgiving. So, Black Friday represents the turning point from a loss towards big profits.

We hope you enjoy Black Friday almost as much as the retailers do!

NOTE: Wild as it may seem, there is another interesting special day celebrated on the day after Thanksgivng. It is called "Buy Nothing Day."

In Honor of
Eat a Red Apple Day
December 1st

WE HAVE ALL HEARD THE OLD ADAGE "AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY," but new research has shown that apples have many more benefits than previously thought according to Carolanne Wright of Natural News.com.

"Want to improve memory, endurance or weight loss? Eat an apple.

"How about boosting physical health? Apples can help.

"Threatening diseases like diabetes, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, asthma and cancer are also diminished by this seemingly ordinary fruit.

"Researchers have discovered that consistent consumption of apples fosters greater health. Asthmatic children who drink apple juice on a daily basis have less wheezing than those who only have apple juice once a month. . . . Apples also help to control diabetes. As a good source of galacturonic acid, apples curb the body's requirement for insulin. Even better, women who eat at least one apple a day lower their chances of developing Type II diabetes by 28 percent.

"Cancer risk is also reduced. A study of 10,000 people found that those who consumed the most apples slashed their lung cancer rates by 50 percent. It is believed that high levels of the flavonoids naringin and quercetin are responsible for this dramatic finding. Additionally, promising research on breast, colon and liver cancer reveals that apples may offer substantial protection. Bone health is enriched by apples too. Scientists in France observed that the flavonoid phloridzin present in apples increased bone density in post-menopausal women. As an added bonus, apples are high in boron -- another bone fortifying nutrient.

"Drinking apple juice decreases the risk of Alzheimer's and age related cognitive decline as well. An apple enhanced diet boosts levels of acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter that is linked with healthy brain function and memory. In addition, apples prevent gallstones and cataracts, protect against Parkinson's disease, improve heart health, calm irritable bowel syndrome, detoxify the liver and strengthen immune function.

"Apples can help you cross the finish line slim and trim with energy to spare. A good source of ursolic acid, apples assist the body in burning more calories while increasing muscle and brown fat. Researchers at Florida State University believe that antioxidants and pectin also contribute to weight loss associated with apple consumption. What's more, stamina is heightened. Quercetin in apples increases oxygen bioavailability within the lungs -- lending increased endurance."

Sources for this article include:
"15 health benefits of eating apples" Best Health Magazine.
"8 Health Benefits of Apples" The Editors of Huffington Post Healthy Living, Shape Magazine.
"What's New and Beneficial About Apples" George Mateijan Foundation.

In Honor of
R e p e a l D a y
December 5th

REPEAL DAY COMMEMORATES THE REPEAL OF THE 18th AMENDMENT. Once more, Americans were free to buy, sell, and consume alcoholic beverages. I'll drink to that!

In the early 1900's, many of the good people of America believed that alcohol was the root cause of many social ills in the country. Prohibition on a national scale was promoted in part by the American Christian Women's Temperance Union. This movement grew in popularity; and on January 16, 1919 the United States Congress passed the 18th amendment.

The ban on alcohol did little to improve the social conditions of the country nor to reduce crime. Rather, crime increased as racketeers got into the the business of making and selling alcohol. The popularity of the 18th Amendment waned; more and more people and groups sought its repeal.

Congress passed the 21st Amendment, effectively repealing the 18th Amendment; and the State of Utah became the final state to vote its approval. Achieving the 3/4 of states need to approve, the 18th Amendment was formally repealed on December 5, 1933.

In Honor of
Pearl Harbor Day
December 7th

NO ONE BELIEVED THAT THE JAPANESE WOULD START A WAR WITH AN ATTACK ON AMERICAN TERRITORY. For one thing, it would be terribly inconvenient as Hawaii and Japan were about 4,000 miles apart. For another, American intelligence officials were confident that any Japanese attack would take place in one of the (relatively) nearby European colonies in the South Pacific. Because American military leaders were not expecting an attack so close to home, the naval facilities at Pearl Harbor were relatively undefended. Almost the entire Pacific Fleet was moored around Ford Island in the harbor, and hundreds of airplanes were squeezed onto adjacent airfields. To the Japanese, Pearl Harbor was an irresistible target.

But, the Japanese failed to cripple the Pacific Fleet on December 7th. By the 1940s, battleships were no longer the most important naval vessel; aircraft carriers were. As it happened, all of the carriers were away from the base when the Japanese struck. Moreover, the Pearl Harbor assault left the base’s most vital onshore facilities–oil storage depots, repair shops, shipyards, and submarine docks–intact. As a result, the U.S. Navy was able to rebound relatively quickly from the attack.

After Pearl Harbor, and for the first time after years of discussion and debate, the American people were united in their determination to go to war. The Japanese had wanted to goad the United States into an agreement to lift the economic sanctions against them. Instead, they had pushed their adversary into a global conflict that ultimately resulted in Japan’s first occupation by a foreign power.

In Honor of
National Bouillabaisse Day
December 14th

HOW TO MAKE THE AUTHENTIC BOUILLABAISSE IS ALWAYS A SUBJECT OF LIVELY DISCUSSION among French chefs; each always insists that his own is the only correct version. If you do not live on the Mediterranean, you cannot obtain the particular rockfish, gurnards, mullets, weavers, sea eels, wrasses, and breams which experts consider the absolutely essential fish for bouillabaisse. You can, however, make an extremely good facsimile--like the one in the following video--even if you have only frozen fish and canned clam juice. All of the other essential flavors like tomatoes, onion or leeks, garlic, herbs, and olive oil are always available.

So when you’ve got an hour instead of a first class ticket to Marseille, this time-efficient approximation will just have to do!

YOU WILL HAVE TO FORMAT THE RECIPE INTO THE FORUM. i HAD ZAPPED THE FORUM BUT DID SAVE THE RECIPE. BE SURE TO ADD A LINK FROM YOUR HOME PAGE TO THE FORUM.

Tasty & Quick Bouillabaisse

1 pound white fish fillets (we used mahi mahi)
1 can of tomatoes
1 onion, roughly chopped (plus two chopped leeks if you happen to have ‘em on hand)
2 fennel bulbs, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
olive oil
pinch of saffron
white wine
salt and pepper

Sautee the vegetables in olive oil until tender, crumble in saffron, deglaze pan with white wine. Season with salt and pepper. Add tomatoes with juices and simmer until tender, about 30 minutes. Add fish until thoroughly cooked through, another 10 minutes or so. Puree with an immersion blender.

Fake-o Aioli
This is perhaps my favorite part of the dish. Make too much for the added benefit of having to slather it on sandwiches the next day.

jarred mayo
squeeze of lemon juice
tablespoon olive oil
pinch saffron (crumbled and steeped in a tablespoon or so hot water)

Mix it all up and spread on toasted rustic country white and serve.

In Honor of
Feast of Chanukah or Hannakah
December 18th

THE JEWISH HOLIDAY OF CHANUKAH, THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT, celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, of purity over adulteration, and of spirituality over materiality.

More than twenty-one centuries ago, the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who sought to force the people of Israel to renounce their religion and worship as they did. Against all odds, a small band of faithful Jews defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth and drove the Greeks from their land. They, then, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of God.

When they sought to light the Temple's menorah (the seven branched candelabrum), they found only a single container of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks. Miraculously, the one-day supply burned for eight days until new oil could be purified.

To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Chanukah. At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah lighting: a single flame on the first night, two on the second evening, and so on until the final night of Chanukah when all eight candles are lit.

On Chanukah special prayers are offerred to praise and thank God for "delivering the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few . . . [and] the wicked into the hands of the righteous."

Chanukah customs include eating foods fried in oil, like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiot (doughnuts), playing with the dreidel (a spinning top on which are inscribed the Hebrew letters, and the giving of gifts or money to framily and friends.

In Honor of
Humbug Day/Look on the Bright Side Day
December 21st

ACCORDING TO WELLCAT.COM,* HUMBUG DAY ALLOWS EVERYONE PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS to vent their frustrations.

Sure, venting frustration over the stress of Christmas is appropriate for this day. But, we believe Humbug Day is much more. We believe Humbug Day brings out the Scrooge in all of us. Scrooges all over have been waiting for this day and come out of the woodwork in great numbers. They go far beyond venting a few frustrations. Many scrooges are negative towards Christmas in general and can put a real damper on the Christmas spirit of others.

Use Humbug Day to release the stress of the holiday season; but, whatever you do, avoid becoming a real, bonafide Christmas Scrooge.

LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE DAY IS ALSO DECEMBER 21st. We hope you see the light, literally. Looking on the bright side may be a bit difficult today because it is winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, and because December days tend to be cloudy.

Look on the Bright Side Day is a day to be optimistic. It calls upon us to look for something positive out of an otherwise bad or sad situation. Often, a bad experience has does positive lessons to be learned; and though it isn't always easy, it's important to try to find them.

If you had a bad day yesterday, look on the bright side: today is another day and an optimistic one at that!

*Wellcat.com is the creator of Bah Humbug Day.

(Changes annually) In Honor of
Festivus - It's for the Rest of Us!
December 23rd

FESTIVUS, A WELL-CELEBRATED PARODY, has become a secular holiday celebrated on December 23 and serves as an alternative to participating in the pressures and commercialism of the Christmas season. Originally a family tradition of a scriptwriter working on the American sitcom Seinfeld, the holiday entered popular culture after it was made the focus of an 1997 episode of the program.

The holiday's celebration, as it was shown on Seinfeld, includes a Festivus dinner with meatloaf as the suggested main course; an unadorned aluminum “Festivus pole;" practices such as "Feats of Strength," the labeling of easily explainable events as "Festivus miracles;" and the "Airing of Grievances," where you tell someone how disappointed you are over what they did, or didn't do, during the past year.

So if you’re feeling a little left out: you don't celebrate Christmas or Chanukah; Kwanzaa just isn't your thing; and, you don't even know what Ramadan is. Then, come and experience the joy and the miracle of Festivus. The Festivus slogan is, after all, "A Festivus for the rest of us!"

In Honor of
C h r i s t m a s
December 25th

AH! CHRISTMAS, THE BIGGEST HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR. Christmas is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. December 25–Christmas Day–has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.

And so, we invite you to ride along. Join us in celebration of the magic, the wonder and the spirit of this holiday season.

In Honor of
K w a n z a a
December 26th

KWANZAA IS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN HOLIDAY, lasting seven days, celebrating history, culture, family, and community. It was begun by scholar-activist Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach in 1966. Focusing on values, culture, and history, Kwanzaa encourages people to learn more about their roots and to focus upon their values.

The name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning "first fruits of the harvest". The African-American holiday is now celebrated all over the world but primarily observed in the U.S., Africa, and the Caribbean.

In Honor of
National Fruitcake Day
December 27th

FRUITCAKE DAY CELEBRATES THE ROCK-HARD, fruit-filled holiday cake. While fruitcake was popular in the 40's and 50's, we are not sure if anyone has ever eaten this weighty, gooey, sugar -laden cake.

It is very appropriate for National Fruitcake Day to be celebrated shortly after Christmas. Once the holidays are over, it's time to get rid of your fruitcake. Giving a fruitcake is a Christmas tradition for many. It is also believed that recipients will re-wrap the fruitcake and give it to someone else. Who knows how many years, or decades, a fruitcake has been passed along?

Ultimately, the trick is to make sure you give away the fruitcake before the holiday season is through. Otherwise, you get the joy of storing it until the next fruitcake-giving season.

Scientists have been unable to penetrate deeply into a fruitcake and therefore, have failed to uncover its exact composition. Its density has also hampered their ability to use carbon dating to identify the age of a fruitcake. Unconfirmed rumors suggest that some fruitcake are hundreds of years old.

In Honor of
New Year's Eve
December 31st

Sydney Harbor with a Latin Beat

New Year's Eve Ball Drops through the Years

NEW YEAR'S EVE IS WHEN WE SEE OUT THE OLD YEAR and ring in the new. While it is often thought of as a time to drink and be merry, many people take it as an opportunity to eat and be merry. Drinking is not as much a part of the event as it was decades ago, if only because of tougher drunk driving laws.

So, enjoy everything about New Year's; it only comes once a year.

New Years Trivia: Did you know that a raisin dropped in a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top.

In Honor of

International Stop Spam Day

January 2nd

TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL STOP SPAM DAY. No, we're not talking about spam, the processed pork in a can. We're talking about the millions upon millions of junk texts and emails that bombard our cellphones and email accounts each day. It is an international problem that occurs anywhere and everywhere on the planet.

Spam is any unwanted text or email which is sent out in mass by spammers. By far the worst kind of spam attempts to separate you from your money. These messages can appear very compelling and from someone you know. Often these spammers come from offshore sites which make them unidentifiable and untouchable.

Valid businesses, organizations, and even individuals are another group of spammers who send out messages that the recipient may not want. Often, you recognize the sender as someone you bought from or have been acquainted with. The bottom line is, however, you don't want the message; it is spam.

Many of us are helpless to eliminate or even to slow down the constant torrent of spam. There are, fortunately, some things you can do reduce the number of spam messages you receive and the following video will help with this problem.

Additional tips:

If you don't recognize the sender, do not open the message. Delete it immediately.
Do not reply to messages from unknown senders.
If your email account provider allows you to adjust and personalize spam filter controls, tinker with these controls, to increase the accuracy of the spam filters.
Limit the visibility of your email address.
If you no longer want emails or texts from a retailer or other organization, unsubscribe from their mailings.
Don't fall for signing up to mail and announcements. When filling out forms or ordering products and services, review each check box, to see if they are trying to sign you up to their mail list.
Review website privacy policies. Avoid those that do not provide assurance that they will not sell or share your email address or other personal information.

In Honor of

Houseplant Appreciation Day

January 10th

THE HOLIDAYS ARE OVER. The decorations have been put away for another year. The house looks a little plain and a little drab. In the greyishness of January, your eye catches something in the corner of the room. Why, it's a houseplant! Funny, but with all of the holiday hubabuloo, you've all but forgotten your houseplants. And today, no less, is HOUSEPLANT APPRECIATION DAY!

Today is THE day to get back to tending to, and loving your houseplants, and it's also a day to appreciate just how special and important they are. They are therapeutic by lifting your mood and outlook. They add warmth and a calming effect to both you and your home. If you are a gardener, they give you an opportunity to play in the dirt until spring arrives -- in the far, distant future.

There are lots of ways to celebrate and enjoy this day:

Start by making sure that the houseplants you already have are well watered. Give them a special treat today... a little fertilizer.
If you do not have any houseplants or just have a couple, buy a new houseplant (or two) on this day.
Learn more about the benefits of houseplants to your health.
Stand by your houseplant and breath in the air! It's giving off oxygen.
Teach your kids about growing and caring for plants.
Give a houseplant to a friend, especially the elderly or shut-ins.
Talk to your plants. Yes, people believe plants respond positively, when you talk to them.

For more on growing houseplants see FENGER FORUMS or copy and paste the following link into your browser:

Growing houseplants is an excellent way to not only beautify your home, but to purify the air as well. Many houseplants are tropical plants and the care for tropical houseplants can vary, but there are a few rules of thumb to follow for indoor houseplant care.

LIGHT

Light is an important part of indoor houseplant care. In order to provide the right amount of light for your houseplant, make sure to check the tag on the plant or check its preference on the Internet.

Generally houseplants need either high, medium, or low light. Beyond this, a houseplant may need direct (bright) light or indirect light.

Bright or direct light
Light that is bright will be light that comes from a window. The brightest light will come from a south-facing window.
Indirect light
Indirect light is light that comes from a light bulb or is sunlight that has been filtered through something, like a curtain.
High light houseplants
If the indoor houseplant care instructions for a houseplant call for high light, this plant will need five or more hours of bright light, preferably within 6 feet near a south-facing window.
Medium light houseplants
For proper houseplant maintenance of medium light houseplants, they should be exposed to several hours of bright or indirect light. This light can come from a window or from overhead lighting.
Low light houseplants
Low light houseplants need very little light. Typically, these houseplants do well in rooms that have light but no windows. That being said, low light plants need light of some kind. If a room has no windows and the lights stay off most of the time, the houseplant will not survive.

WATER

When growing houseplants, water is essential. The general rule of thumb is that you should only water a houseplant if the top of the soil feels dry. Watering this way is correct for most indoor houseplant care.

A few houseplants, particularly succulents and cacti, only need to be watered when the soil is completely dry and a few others may need to be kept constantly moist. The houseplants that have special watering needs will be marked as such on their tag when you buy them. If there are no special instructions for watering on the tag, then you can go by the “dry to the touch” rule for watering care of houseplants.

FERTILIZER

For houseplant maintenance, they can be fertilized one of two ways. The first is through water, the other is through slow release fertilizer. Which you use for growing houseplants is up to you. Both work well.

When you fertilize through water, you will add a water soluble fertilizer to the plant’s water about once a month in warm weather and once every two months in cooler weather.

If you want to use a slow release fertilizer, add it to the soil once every two to three months.

TEMPERATURE

Since most houseplants are actually tropical plants, they cannot tolerate cold temperatures. The care for tropical houseplants requires that the houseplants be kept in rooms that are between 65 and 75 degrees F. (18-21 C.). These are the temperatures that most houseplants prefer. If needed though, many houseplants can tolerate temperatures as low as 55 degrees F. (13 C.), but they will not thrive at temperatures this low for too long.

In Honor of

National Bagel Day

January 15th

There's a special day to celebrate most things, so it seems logical that there would be a special day to give recognition to Bagels. Fortunately for bagel lovers, that day arrives on January 15!

Depending upon who you talk to and what you read, the word bagel and the recipe originated in different areas and at different times. Some folks say the word bagel comes from the German word Bougel and dates back to the 16th century. It is also believed that the recipe for bagels evolved from the ringed Polish bread Obwarzanek, which was invented in the late 14th century. In Krakow, Poland,they were given as gifts to women after childbirth.

Confusing? Yes. But personally, I don't care too much where the name came from or how they it came to be. I'm just thankful that there are plenty of bagels for all of us! As for flavor choice, I'll take mine with everything!

The only requirement on this day, is that you eat bagels. Have them your way -- toasted or un-toasted -- and add whatever you wish -- lox, cream cheese, butter, or your favorite jelly.

Should you like to try your hand at making your own bagels, here's a sure fire recipe for professional-style bagels -- the written recipe is at FENGER FORUMS, short-cut:

Pro Level Bagels at Home

See FENGER FORUMS for the written recipe or copy and paste the following link in your browser:

FOR FORUM

PRO LEVEL BAGELS AT HOME RECIPE ------

BIGA
3/4c room temp water
Pinch instant yeast
1 3/4c bread flour

Add yeast to water. Add flour. Stir ingredients to combine.
Cover and allow to ferment at room temperature for 12-24 hours.

BAGELS:
1 1/2c warm water (86F/30C)
All of the biga (from above)
1tsp instant yeast
715g bread flour (at least 12% protein)
1 1/2tsp diastatic malt powder
1Tbsp + 1/4tsp salt 3-4L or 1gallon water
2 1/2Tbsp molasses
Everything bagel seasoning (equal parts of the following. Im using 50g or about ¼-⅓ c)
flakey salt
black sesame seeds
white sesame seeds
poppy seeds
dehydrated minced garlic
dehydrated minced onion

Add water to a bowl. Add in biga and break up into the water a bit. Add yeast, flour, malt powder, and salt. Stir until mixture comes together into a lumpy mass then continue mixing with a very wet hand. Once the dough has formed into a shaggy ball, transfer to a work surface and begin to knead for about 10-12min or until the dough is able to pass the windowpane test (when you stretch the dough into a sheet, you can see light through it without the dough ripping or shredding). If it doesn’t pass the test, keep kneading.

Round off dough and place in bowl, covered, to allow to ferment at room temperature for 1 hour. Divide dough into twelve pieces (125g each). Shape each piece as shown in video @4:04. Place onto oiled sheet tray. Cover tightly and allow to cold ferment in the refrigerator for 4-48 hours (more time = more flavor).

Preheat pizza steel/stone in 475/245C on oven rack in the lowest position.

Boil about a gallon of water and stir in molasses. Drop in bagels (as many as will fit comfortably on surface of water) to boil for 30 seconds on side one. Carefully flip and continue to boil for another 30 seconds. Transfer to a wire rack on a sheet tray.

While bagels are still wet and warm, coat one side of each bagel with everything bagel seasoning and place seed side down onto the burlap of a **“bagel board” that has been soaked in water. If you’d like to see how to make your own cedar bagel boards, see how I do that @5:45.

Place boards on top of pizza steel/stone in the oven and bake at 475/245C for 5 minutes. After that 5 minutes carefully flip bagels seed side up, directly onto to the pizza steel, and bake for another 10-12 minutes until golden brown, but not burnt.

**to bake without bagel boards, place bagels directly on pizza stone/steel and bake at 425F/220C

In Honor of

Martin Luther King Day

Jan 18, 2022

Born on January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King Jr. grew to become one of the greatest Social Activists the world has ever known. At 35, he became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace prize. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968 while making a speech from the balcony of his hotel room in Memphis, Tennessee.

His birthday became a National Holiday by an act of Congress in 1983. Many consider it a day to serve your community.

Quote for Today: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy." - - Martin Luther King Jr.

In Honor of

National Cheese Lover Day

January 20

Do you love cheese -- all kinds of cheese? Spectacular! Soon it will be National Cheese Lover's Day!

Use the day to serve, savor, and enjoy any of the hundreds of varieties of cheese. Depending upon what article you read, there are between 900 to 1,400 kinds of cheese. Having a cheese tasting party with friends will make this a truly memorable day. Set out a tray with several varieties of your favorite cheese and don't forget the wine. Wine goes great with cheese.

How to Make an Easy Cheese Tray

Some Cheesy Trivia:

Cheese is more flavorful at room temperature.
Americans consume over 31 pounds of cheese per year. But that's nothing compared to the French who eat over 50 pounds of cheese per year.
Historical records vary as to when cheese was first made. It was somewhere between 7,500 and 8,000 B.C. Records suggest it may have first been discovered by accident in Poland or Arabia.
The world's largest cheese was put on display on this day in 1964 at the New York World's Fair. It weighed over 34,000 pounds.

Eating cheese makes you feel gouda. So, don't be bleu. Eat some cheese on National Cheese Lover Day.

In Honor of

Compliment Day

January 24

How nice of you to visit our site today. I can see by your choice of websites, that you are an intelligent person. You are a kind and inquisitive person. I love the way you . . . .

Yes, its Compliment Day. Today is a great opportunity to say something positive about the people you come into contact with. Everyone has good attributes. . . . that's right everyone.

Compliment Day is celebrated by offering sincere compliments to people you know. It is important that you are sincere. People will see right through insincerity, and you will do more harm than good.

How many compliments should you give out today? Five compliments sounds about right; and yes, they should be to five different people.

Suggestions:

Its a cinch to find compliments for family and loved ones, even for your Mother-in-Law. (Tip: She's probably a good cook.)
Friends are friends because you see something good about them. Here's an easy compliment to a friend: "Wow, you're very intelligent...you choose your friends wisely".
It's more challenging to compliment your boss, or people you don't like. Take up the challenge, and find a compliment for them today, too.

Mike Polk, Jr. takes on National Compliment Day

Remember: Mama said, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything."

(After a long search for something good, if you just can't find a compliment for them, then silence is golden.)

In Honor of
National Peanut Butter Lovers' Day
January 24, 2017

MARCH 1st IS A STICKY DAY: NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTERR LOVER'S DAY! America's salutes its favorite sandwich spread. What kid didn't grow up loving peanut butter and jelly sandwich? It's a staple in our house.

Peanut Butter is not limited to sandwiches. It's popular on crackers, celery and other "peanut butter" holders. It is also used in recipes for cookies and snacks. And, don't forget peanut butter candies, too!

Celebrate today with a little (or a lot) of Peanut Butter.

In Honor of

National Puzzle Day

January 29

Don't be puzzled by today. National Puzzle Day honors puzzles of all size, shape and form. Crossword puzzles are by far the most common. Sudoku, a number puzzle, is the most recent puzzle rage. And, don't forget the ever popular picture puzzles.

Puzzles are a favorite pastime of millions of people, young and old. So, what's with this fascination over puzzles? There's numerous reasons for it's popularity. For many, doing puzzles is fun. Some people just like the challenge of completing them, and graduating to evermore complex and difficult puzzle solving levels. For others, it is a way to kill time, and to eliminate boredom. Others still, do puzzles to keep their mind sharp, or to learn new words.

Whatever the cause for your interest, spend National Puzzle Day doing puzzles. On this day, you can do any kind of puzzle you wish.

How America's largest Puzzle Factory Makes 2 million puzzles a month

In Honor of

Feed the Birds Day

February 3

This is an important day for the health and survival of wild backyard birds and is celebrated during the deepest, coldest and snowiest part of winter. It also the time when food for birds is the scarcest so it's the time your backyard birds need your help the most. The seeds in your feeder provide energy and strength to help birds make it through the rest of winter.

On this day, everyone is encouraged to leave out food for backyard wild birds. Better still, make this the start of a daily habit of feeding your backyard birds. Seeds are the best food for them as they are a high energy food source. Breads do not offer nearly as much energy, but will do when food is scarce and you don't have any bird seed.

WARNING: The Archenemy of those who feed birds is T H E S Q U I R R E L !
My mom, a normally calm, rational human being, could often be seen by her neighbors racing out ot her house waving a broom and yelling at the greedy squirrels to get away from the bird feeders. One person on my Internet, however, search took protecting bird feeders much, much further -- though I must say not as effectively as my mom's broom.

Backyard Squirrel Maze 1.0

Important: Once you begin feeding the birds, it is important to do so consistently, as they will rely on the seed for survival. Different species of birds have varying seed preferences. See Audubon Guide to Bird Feeding: web address

Put on Forum: Backyard Squirrel Maze 2.0

AND

Audubon Guide t0 Bird Feeding

SUNFLOWER SEEDS
Black-oil sunflower seed is preferred by many small feeder birds, especially in northern latitudes. Striped sunflower seed is also readily eaten, especially by large-beaked birds. Hulled sunflower seed is eaten by the greatest variety of birds; it attracts jays, Red-Bellied Woodpeckers, goldfinches, Northern Cardinals, Pine Grosbeaks, titmice, nuthatches, and grackles.

MILLET
White millet is the favorite food of most small-beaked ground-feeding birds; red millet is also readily eaten. Millet attracts quail, doves, juncos, sparrows, towhees, cowbirds, and Red-winged Blackbirds.

CRACKED CORN
Medium cracked corn attracts many kinds of ground-feeding birds, but it is prone to rot, since the interior of the kernel readily soaks up moisture. Feed small amounts, mixed with millet, on feeding tables or from watertight hopper feeders. Avoid fine cracked corn, since it quickly turns to mush; coarse cracked corn is too large for small-beaked birds. Cracked corn attracts quail, doves, jays, juncos, and towhees.

SAFFLOWER SEEDS
Safflower seed is readily eaten by cardinals, grosbeaks, sparrows, and doves; starlings, House Sparrows, and squirrels usually find it less appealing than sunflower seed.

NYJER® (THISTLE)
A preferred food of American Goldfinches, Lesser Goldfinches, House Finches, and Common Redpolls, Nyjer® is sometimes called “black gold,” because it can be expensive compared with other birdseed. Do not confuse it with prickly thistle, a pink-flowered weed used by goldfinches to line their nests.

SUET and BIRD PUDDINGS (BEEF, FAT, and SEED)
This mixture attracts insect-eating birds such as woodpeckers, wrens, chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice. Place the suet in special feeders or net onion bags at least five feet above the ground to keep it out of the reach of animals. Although suet is particularly helpful during cold weather and migration, when birds need extra fat reserves, “no melt” suet cakes are now available for use in warmer weather.

PEANUTS
Whole and crushed peanuts attract woodpeckers, jays, chickadees, titmice, bushtits, nuthatches, Brown Creepers, wrens, kinglets, Northern Mockingbirds, Brown Thrashers, starlings, and Yellow-rumped and Pine Warblers. Provide these in tube-shaped, metal mesh feeders.

MILO, WHEAT, and OATS
These agricultural products are frequently mixed into lowpriced birdseed blends. Most birds discard the uneaten seed in favor of other food, which leaves it to accumulate under feeders, where they may attract rodents.

Homemade Recipes to Add to Your Bird Feeders

PEANUT BUTTER PUDDING
Peanut butter is a good substitute for suet in the summer. Mix one part peanut butter with five parts cornmeal and stuff the mixture into holes drilled in a hanging log or into the crevices of a large pine cone. This all-season mixture attracts woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, and occasionally warblers.

FRUIT for BERRY-EATING BIRDS
Fruit specialists such as robins, waxwings, bluebirds, and mockingbirds rarely eat birdseed. To attract these birds, soak raisins and currants in water overnight, then place them on a table feeder, or purchase seed blends with a dried fruit mixture. To attract orioles and tanagers, skewer halved oranges onto a spike near other feeders, or provide nectar feeders.

NECTAR for HUMMINGBIRDS
Make a sugar solution of one part white sugar to four parts water. Boil briefly to sterilize the mixture and dissolve the sugar crystals (there’s no need to add red food coloring). Feeders must be washed every few days with very hot water and kept scrupulously clean to prevent the growth of mold

In Honor of

Chinese New Year

Feb 12, 2022

Chinese New Years is celebrated by billions of people around the world. The date of Chinese New Years changes every year. It is a 15 day celebration, beginning on the first day of the new moon, and ends on the full moon. The celebration on the15th day is called the Chinese Lantern Festival.

Chinese culture is amongst the oldest in the world. While the rest of the world is in the early years of but the third millennium, Chinese culture is in their fifth millennium.

In Chinese astrology, every year is represented by an animal. The cycle is twelve years, with a different animal each year. To find out about your sign, and what it says about you, see Chinese Astrology.

Chinese New years or Spring Festival, is the biggest holiday in Chinese culture. It is celebrated with festivities, fireworks, brightly colored lights, special meals with family and gift giving. Like Christmas in the western world, most Chinese travel home to be with family for the new year celebration.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GhSv7mWanzc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

In Honor of

Super Bowl Sunday

February 13. 2021

Remember this?

Super Bowl LVI will be held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California

very NFL Football team wants to get to the "Party", The "Big Game", the Super Bowl! And, only one team leaves with the victory and a Super Bowl ring telling the world they are the greatest football team in the world.

Millions of people around the world hold or attend the "Big Party" at bars, party houses, and in their living rooms. Super Bowl Sunday is the second biggest snack day of the year. Second only to, you guessed it, New Years Eve. Sit down and tune in to the most watched game of the year. Even casual sports fans take part. After all, watching the great ads and the super Half-time show, are as much a part of the game as the game itself. Many spouses readily admit, they watch the Superbowl just to see the ads.

In Honor of
St. Valentine's Day
February 14th

Hey Guys! Vanentine's Day is right around the corner and
chocolate remains the preferred gift.

VALENTINE'S DAY IS A CELEBRATION OF LOVE AND LOVERS. The roots of Valentine's Day goes back to ancient times when people paid honor to the Roman God of Fertility. This was known as the Feast of Lupercalia, and was celebrated even then on February 14th.

The traditions of Valentine's Day are broad and many. It is a time to exchange cards or small gifts. Chocolates and jewelry are the big hits of this holiday as are romantic dinners.

While 75% of chocolate purchases are made by women all year long, during the days and minutes before Valentine's Day, 75% of the chocolate purchases are made by men. Over $1 billion of chocolate is purchased for Valentine's Day.

In Honor of
Presidents' Day
February 21, 2022

Bet you can't name all the Presidents!

PRESIDENT'S DAY IS SET ASIDE TO HONOR ALL OF THE U.S. PRESIDENTS. We often think of two great presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln when we celebrate this holiday, because it falls by design between their birthdays. More and more of us, look at this day as a tribute to each and every person who has ever served in the office of the President of the United States of America. In 1968, it became a national holiday and is observed on the third Monday in February. While Federal employees, the post office, and banks have the day off, most businesses and industry do not recognize it as a paid holiday.

In Honor of
George Washington's Birthday
February 22nd

THE "FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY," George Washington was born on February 22, 1732. He became commander in chief of the Continental Army in 1775 and fought a long and arduous war for freedom from British rule. The war was finally over in 1781 when the Continental Army with the help of the French, forced Cornwallis to surrender at Yorktown.

In 1787, Washington was unanimously elected president by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and took the oath of office in 1789. He served two terms of office from 1789 until 1797.

After the presidency, Washington retired to his home in Mount Vernon, Virgina where he died on December 14, 1799 of a throat infection.

In Honor of
Johnny Appleseed Day
March 11th

JOHNNY APPLESEED DAY HONORS one of America's great legends. Johnny Appleseed was a real person. John Chapman was among the American settlers who were captivated by the movement west across the continent. As Johnny Appleseed travelled west, he planted apple trees along the way, and sold trees to settlers. With every apple tree that was planted, the legend grew.

There is plenty of documentation to support claims for Johnny Appleseed Day on March 11th and on September 26th. So, here's the skinny on the two dates:

John Chapman was born on September 26, 1774. This date is undisputed.
It is believed he died on March 11, 1845. However, his date was not formally recorded and the date of death is disputed.

In Honor of
The Ides of March
March 15th

BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH

By Maura Judkis, Washington Post

IT'S AN OMINOUS DAY IN ANCIENT HISTORY: The Ides of March, or the day of Julius Caesar’s back-stabbing assassination. And though that event happened many centuries ago — 44 B.C., to be precise — the day has taken on a superstitious aura, much like Friday the 13th. “Beware the Ides of March,” said the soothsayer in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” and we’ve heeded those words ever since.

Before Caesar’s assassination, the word ”Ides” was just a calendar term to mark the full moon. But after he was murdered by a group of conspirators led by Marcus Brutus, the day took on its new, portentous meaning—a day when prophecies of doom are realized. Will today be that kind of a day?

We'll see . . . .

In Honor of
St. Patrick's Day
March 17th

Everything You Always Wanted to Know about . . . !

WELL, THE SAYING GOES, "EVERYONE IS A LITTLE IRISH ON SAINT PATRICK'S DAY," Why not? It's become a celebration that's marked by colorful parades, green clothing, and a modest sip, or two, of brew. Why in Chicago, they even dye their river green!

Saint Patrick's Day honors the Patron Saint of Ireland, who brought Christianity to the Emerald Isles, as Ireland is known. It is truly a day of celebrating Irish history, ancestry, traditions and customs--and that green brew that was afore mentioned.

In Honor of
National Goof Off Day
March 22nd

NOW HERE'S A DAYow here's a day that just about everybody can relax and enjoy. It's a day to do anything and everything . . . except what you're supposed to do today.

Assuming you won't get in trouble, go ahead and play some golf, or play video games all day. Spend extra time surfing the net. Go out and spend the day window shopping with your favorite friend. Or, just read sit down and read a book or watch Tv. This day is set aside for you to do anything you enjoy doing.

A few years ago, a survey was performed to identify the most popular activity for goofing off. The top activity was playing video games. Who conducted the survey? Ninetendo . . . no surprise. It kinda makes you wonder just who might have had the brainstorm to create this day . . . hmmmm.

The origin of this day is unknown. We do suspect it was created by some hard working individual who finally got fed up of always doing what he (or she) was supposed to do. Most likely, they finally lost it, and took a day to just goof off. How do we know it wasn't created by someone who is always goofing off? Because they would have created Goof Off week, or month,
or . . . .

In Honor of
National Spinach Day
March 26th

National Spinach Day celebrates, healthy and nutritious spinach! A generation ago, kids were threatened with a variety of punishments if they did not eat their spinach. We don't push spinach as much today, as our parents did, but from a nutrition standpoint, perhaps we should.

When we speak of spinach, most people still think about cooked spinach leaves boiled into an mushy, green glob. Horrors!

Spinach can be eaten raw or cooked. It is amazing how many cooks have never tried the mild flavored leaves in a salad. Fewer people still, think about where they can use spinach. These greens mix well in many recipes and can be found in places like stuffed shells, lasagna, soups, casseroles, omelets, and much more.

Whether our parents knew it or not, spinach truly is good for you. It is packed with vitamins and minerals. Even Popeye knew the benefits of this healthy food. You remember Popeye and how spinach helped him?

In Honor of

April Fools' Day
April 1st

INFO BOX
A couple of weeks prior to April Fools Day I included the following Info Box
and changed the suggestions every couple of days.

April Fool's Day is coming! Be prepared: Borrow someone's cell phone and change the language setting to a foreign language.

APRIL FOOL SUGGESTIONS TO POST IN BOX:

Borrow someone’s cell phone and change the language setting to a foreign language.
Swap the signs on the men’s and ladies’ rest rooms.
Hide scented air fresheners all over someone’s office.
Add food coloring to the windshield washer fluid of someone’s car.
Replace Oreo cream-filling with toothpaste and offer one to someone.
Put a “Please Use Other Door” sign on the entrance to your office building if it only has one entrance.
Leave a note on someone’s car apologizing for an accident that never actually happened.
Glue all the eggs into the carton.
Hard boil all the eggs in the carton and place them back in the refrigerator.
Paint a bar of soap completely with clear nail polish so it won’t suds up.
Place a small piece of Post-it note over the ball under someone’s computer mouse so that it won’t work.
Hide a small radio in the ceiling tiles above someone’s desk and turn it on very softly.
Leave cryptic notes warning someone of an impending prank then do nothing all day.
Tape magnets to the bottom of a cup, put it on the roof of your car and drive around.
Put food coloring in the hand soap dispenser.

TRADITIONALLY, APRIL FOOL'S DAY IS an opportunity for playing jokes or tricks on one another--the stranger and the more absurd the better. The challenge is to carry out a trick that is believable, if only for a little while. Tricks are most successful if played earlier in the day before a person is wise to what is going on. Younger children are also more gullible.

Any tricks or jokes must be harmless and in good taste for the unsuspecting "victim". And, we suggest you think twice before pulling one on the spouse, even if he or she is known to be of good humor.

In Honor of

April Fools' Day
April 1st

INFO BOX
A couple of weeks prior to April Fools Day I included the following Info Box
and changed the suggestions every couple of days.

April Fool's Day is coming! Be prepared: Borrow someone's cell phone and change the language setting to a foreign language.

APRIL FOOL SUGGESTIONS TO POST IN BOX:

Borrow someone’s cell phone and change the language setting to a foreign language.
Swap the signs on the men’s and ladies’ rest rooms.
Hide scented air fresheners all over someone’s office.
Add food coloring to the windshield washer fluid of someone’s car.
Replace Oreo cream-filling with toothpaste and offer one to someone.
Put a “Please Use Other Door” sign on the entrance to your office building if it only has one entrance.
Leave a note on someone’s car apologizing for an accident that never actually happened.
Glue all the eggs into the carton.
Hard boil all the eggs in the carton and place them back in the refrigerator.
Paint a bar of soap completely with clear nail polish so it won’t suds up.
Place a small piece of Post-it note over the ball under someone’s computer mouse so that it won’t work.
Hide a small radio in the ceiling tiles above someone’s desk and turn it on very softly.
Leave cryptic notes warning someone of an impending prank then do nothing all day.
Tape magnets to the bottom of a cup, put it on the roof of your car and drive around.
Put food coloring in the hand soap dispenser.

Any tricks or jokes must be harmless and in good taste for the unsuspecting "victim". And, we suggest you think twice before pulling one on the spouse, even if he or she is known to be of good humor.

In Honor of
E a s t e r
April 17, 2022

I had a video of meltling chocolate bunnies and can't find it again.
I'll continue to look. Easter is a way off yet. Sorry.

Warning: This video is very, very sad.

THE REAL MEANING OF EASTER, is the Resurection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To Christians, it is the most special day of the year. Yes, the birth of Christ is quite important. But, his resurrection offers the hope of everlasting life to everyone! The Lenten season leading up to Easter Sunday is a time of fasting, sacrifice and prayer. It is the Christian way of replicating in a small way what Christ sacrificed for us, both in his fasting and his final death on the cross.

Easter also is celebrated with the Easter Bunny, colored eggs, jelly beans, and lot of chocolate. The Bunny comes on Saturday night leading to Easter Sunday morning and brings lots of chocolates and other candies.

There is a famous Easter game called the Easter Egg Hunt. Early morning kids wake up and look for the many colored Easter eggs that the Easter bunny has hidden the night before. It is said that the reason this tradition started was because of the Easter Bunny dropped the eggs on the way to deliver them and they hide themselves. That is how the Easter Egg Hunt was supposedly invented.

In Honor of
National Garlic Day
April 19th

NATIONAL GARLIC DAY PROMOTES the many uses of Garlic--and there certainly are many uses. It's a vegetable. Its' a herb. It's used in recipes around the world. It's even believed to ward off evil spirits.

Garlic has also been used medicinally for thousands of years.

Phytochemicals in garlic are believed to provide protection against heart disease and cancer. Specifically, stomach and colorectal cancers.
Helps to fight off colds and flu.
Lowers blood cholesterol levels.
Reduces the buildup of plaque in arteries.
Used as a treatment for acne and warts.
Used for toothaches

About the only negative thing you can say about it, is that it can negatively affect an otherwise romantic evening.

Celebrate National Garlic Day by using it heavily in your meals and snacks today.

** Old family secret: add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice

In Honor of
E a r t h D a y
April 22

BY THE EARLY 1960S AMERICANS WERE becoming aware of the effects of pollution on the environment. Rachel Carson's 1962 bestseller Silent Spring raised the specter of the dangerous effects of pestisides on America's countrysides. Later in the decade, a 1969 fire on Cleveland's Cuyahoga River shed light on the problem of chemical waste disposal. Until that time, protecting the planet's natural resources was not part of the national political agenda, and the number of activists devoted to large-scale issues such as industrial pollution was minimal. Factories pumped pollutants into the air, lakes and rivers with few legal consequences. Big, gas-guzzling cars were considered a sign of prosperity. Only a small portion of the American population was familiar with–let alone practiced–recycling.

Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, the "Father of Earth Day," addressed and promoted environmental actions and activities beginning in 1962, but this initial effort did not spark national concern at a political level to effect change.

Undaunted, he proposed a National Earth day in 1970. It was to be the first nationwide environmental protest "to shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda." On April 22, 1970, the timing was right and the first Earth Day protest received astounding support.

On that first Earth Day, an estimated 20 million Americans took to the street in support of the environment and in protest harmful environmental practices. Never mind that "protests" were in vogue at the time. This effort produced a lasting impact on the environment and brought about greater awareness that our planet had limited resources, and that our eco-system was self-contained and finite. The things we are putting in the air, water and earth were impacting us.

Did you know? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was formed as a direct result of this first Earth Day in 1970.

In Honor of
Cinco De Mayo
May 5th

ON MAY 5, 1862, THE MEXICAN ARMY defeated the French army at the Battle of Puebla. This single military battle signified defeat of a European colonial power and a victory for the Mexican people. This single battle was the root of Cinco de Mayo.

Cinco de Mayo is not the celebration of Mexican Independence which is celebrated on September 16th. What Cinco de Mayo has come to be is much more than one battle in the colonial history of Mexico. Rather, it has come to signify Hispanic and Mexican pride and a time to celebrate the rich culture.

Today, this holiday is celebrated by Mexicans, and especially the Hispanic community in the U.S. It is a time of song, dance, partying, and in general a time to be proud to be of Hispanic descent.

In Honor of
Mother's Day
May 8

MOTHER'S DAY INFO BOX
A couple of weeks before Mother's Day the info box begins and appropriate quotes
were changed every couple of days.

MOM'S DAY IS COMING!
Mother - that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries. ~T. DeWitt Talmage

SUGGGESTED MOTHER'S DAY QUOTES:

A mother understands what a child does not say. ~Jewish proverb

x Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.
~Marion C. Garretty, quoted in A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul

x Mother - that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries.
~T. DeWitt Talmage

A mom's hug lasts long after she lets go. ~Author Unknown

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone

Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. ~Charles R. Swindoll, The Strong Family

There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it. ~Chinese Proverb

x The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. ~ Honore de Balzac

EVERYBODY HAS A MOTHER, and absolutely no one is more special than mom. Sure, dad is really important. And, grandparent's too. But moms—they are just the greatest! Often taken for granted, they are always our strongest supporter. You can't do wrong in Mom's eyes—well, not often anyway. When you are hurt or not feeling well, there is no one else that can make you feel better than Mom.

Mothers have it tough though: always being wrong and unfair—until, you know, their kids reach the age of 30 or become parents themselves. To make up for all the times our kids have given us migraines, driven us to swear like longshoremen, and assailed our ears with talk-fights, Mother’s Day was created.

To all the moms out there, make sure you sit back, relax, and revel in the attention, for the next day it'll be business as usual.

In Honor of
National Be A Millionaire Day
May 20

BE A MILLIONAIRE DAY—now that's my kind of holiday! If you are a millionaire, did you know that you can "officially" celebrate your good fortune every year on May 20? If you are not a millionaire, today is the perfect opportunity to imagine what life would be like as millionaire!

Okay, so a million bucks ain't what it used to be. But, it is still a lot of money, and I have no doubt everyone reading this would like to join the Millionaire's Club. Then, after reaching it, everyone would like to work on the qualifications for the Billionaire's Club. But, I’m getting a little ahead of myself.

The road to becoming a millionaire can be quick: buy a winning lottery ticket, become a hit-making rap artist, be the first draft pick in the NFL, bury a rich uncle. But, if these things don’t appeal to you, rest assured there’s still the good old-fashioned way: hard work, long hours, careful financial planning, and a little bit of luck.

Today, however, let’s just enjoy the day—millionaire or not. Lie back, dream big, and treat yourself to a lavish dinner—buy a lottery ticket too if you like.

All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy.
- Spike Milligan

Millionaire Fun Facts:

The millionaire’s club is a big one. There are more than 7 million millionaires in the world. That’s about 1 millionaire for every 1000 people.
The average age of Forbes’ 400 wealthiest individuals is 63.
Only 20% of millionaires inherited their money. The rest earned every penny.
Half of all millionaires are business owners or self-employed.
80% of millionaires drive used cars.
80% of millionaires have college degrees. About 1 in 5 of them has a Master’s degree.
80% of millionaires still go to w ork. In fact, most of them work 45-55 hours a week.
The top 1% of US earners (millionaires) pay about 40% of all taxes.
Many millionaires have only 1 credit card and pay it off each month.
One million $1 bills (USD) weigh 1 ton.

In Honor of

Armed Forces Day
May 21th

THIS IS A DAY TO SALUTE the men and women in all branches of the Service who protect our country. They are called upon at a moment's notice to perform risky and perilous missions for freedom and country. They train diligently, both physically and mentally, so they will be prepared to prevail in any mission they face.

Just how did it all begin? Well, each branch of the military had their own day of celebration. But, on August 31, 1949 then Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of Armed Forces Day. President Harry Truman also announced the holiday in a presidential proclamation on February 20, 1950. All branches of the military were asked to celebrate on this day, and they complied on the first Armed Forces Day which was held the following year on May 20, 1950.

https://www.thestreatorhighschool1958.com/Flashbacks.htm

In Honor of

Memorial Day
May 30th

MEMORIAL DAY HONORS MEN AND WOMEN WHO DIED WHILE SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. Originally known as Decoration Day, it began in the years following the Civil War, which claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history and required the establishment of the country’s first national cemeteries. By the late 1860s Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers by decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers.

During World War I the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the Memorial Day holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars.

For decades, Memorial Day was observed on May 30, but in 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees; the change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday.

Cities and towns across the United States host Memorial Day parades each year, often incorporating military personnel and members of veterans’ organizations. Americans also observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries and memorials in rememberance of loved ones. On a less somber note, many people throw parties and barbecues on the holiday, perhaps because it unofficially marks the beginning of summer.

World “NO TOBACCO” Day
May 31st

WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY stresses the importance of making people all over the world aware of the health dangers of using tobacco and the addictive nature of tobacco use.

According to the World Health Organization's website: The Member States of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution calling for April 7, 1988 to be a "a world no-smoking day." In 1988, they again addressed the issue with the passing of Resolution WHA42.19 calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May.

World No Tobacco Day is supported by medical organizations around the world. They use this day to promote education of the issues and dangers of using all forms of tobacco and encourage individuals to quit smoking.

The bottom line: If you smoke or chew tobacco, kick the habit today. Your life DOES depend on it!

Your High School

Class of 1977

Your High School

Class of 1977

2013 Holidays

In Honor of
Independence Day
July 4th

“Our society automatically scraps people just like old automobiles. It’s the Detroit syndrome, but the latest models are not always the best,” by Margaret Kuhn

“Youth longs and manhood strives, but age remembers,” by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

“I believe that everybody my age is an adult, while I am merely in disguise,” by Margaret Atwood

“Growing old is like being increasingly punished for a crime you didn’t commit,” by Anthony Powell

“One of the delights known to age and beyond the grasp of youth is that of Not Going,” by Anthony Burgess

“At my age I don’t need drugs anymore. I can get the same effect by standing up real fast,” by Jonathan Katz

“Never trust anyone under eighty,” by Carol Brightman

“Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter,” by Satchel Paige

“I’m not interested in age. People who tell their age are silly. You’re as old as you feel,” by Elizabeth Arden

“My mother always used to say: ‘the older you get, the better you get, unless you’re a banana,’” by Rose Nylund from The Golden Girls

“To be seventy years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old,” by Oliver Wendell Holmes

When Smokers Quit — What Are the Benefits over Time? *

In Honor of

International Stop Spam Day

Houseplant Appreciation Day

Growing houseplants is an excellent way to not only beautify your home, but to purify the air as well. Many houseplants are tropical plants and the care for tropical houseplants can vary, but there are a few rules of thumb to follow for indoor houseplant care.

LIGHT

WATER

FERTILIZER

TEMPERATURE

National Bagel Day

Should you like to try your hand at making your own bagels, here's a sure fire recipe for professional-style bagels -- the written recipe is at FENGER FORUMS, short-cut:

Martin Luther King Day

Jan 18, 2022

National Cheese Lover Day

In Honor of

Compliment Day

National Puzzle Day

Feed the Birds Day

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GhSv7mWanzc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

In Honor of

Super Bowl Sunday

In Honor of
St. Valentine's Day
February 14th

In Honor of
National Spinach Day
March 26th

2013 Holidays

In Honor of Independence Day July 4th

“Our society automatically scraps people just like old automobiles. It’s the Detroit syndrome, but the latest models are not always the best,” by Margaret Kuhn

“Youth longs and manhood strives, but age remembers,” by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

“I believe that everybody my age is an adult, while I am merely in disguise,” by Margaret Atwood

“Growing old is like being increasingly punished for a crime you didn’t commit,” by Anthony Powell

“One of the delights known to age and beyond the grasp of youth is that of Not Going,” by Anthony Burgess

“At my age I don’t need drugs anymore. I can get the same effect by standing up real fast,” by Jonathan Katz

“Never trust anyone under eighty,” by Carol Brightman

“Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter,” by Satchel Paige

“I’m not interested in age. People who tell their age are silly. You’re as old as you feel,” by Elizabeth Arden

“My mother always used to say: ‘the older you get, the better you get, unless you’re a banana,’” by Rose Nylund from The Golden Girls

“To be seventy years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old,” by Oliver Wendell Holmes

When Smokers Quit — What Are the Benefits over Time? *

In Honor of

International Stop Spam Day

Houseplant Appreciation Day

Growing houseplants is an excellent way to not only beautify your home, but to purify the air as well. Many houseplants are tropical plants and the care for tropical houseplants can vary, but there are a few rules of thumb to follow for indoor houseplant care.

LIGHT

WATER

FERTILIZER

TEMPERATURE

National Bagel Day

Should you like to try your hand at making your own bagels, here's a sure fire recipe for professional-style bagels -- the written recipe is at FENGER FORUMS, short-cut:

Martin Luther King Day

Jan 18, 2022

National Cheese Lover Day

In Honor of

Compliment Day

National Puzzle Day

Feed the Birds Day

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GhSv7mWanzc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

In Honor of

Super Bowl Sunday

In Honor of St. Valentine's Day February 14th

In Honor of National Spinach Day March 26th

In Honor of
Independence Day
July 4th

In Honor of
St. Valentine's Day
February 14th

In Honor of
National Spinach Day
March 26th