Today is Thursday, January 5th, 2012 

National Bird Day

It’s National Bird Day! The study of birds has been a fashionable pastime ever since the Victorian Era, and the term “bird watching” first appeared as the title of a book in 1901. According to a 2009 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey, today, one in every five Americans is a birdwatcher. This is defined as anyone who has traveled for the primary purpose of observing birds or has closely observed and identified birds around the home.

Since the late 19^th century, bird protection has become an increasingly important issue. Birds are among the most popular animals in the exotic pet trade, and most birds in captive breeding programs are kept there solely for commercial gain. 

In an attempt to put an end to bird captivity, every year Born Free USA, the Animal Protection Institute, and the Avian Welfare Coalition team up in support of National Bird Day. Today, bird enthusiasts and activists around the United States are asked to take action on behalf of captive birds. Learn more about this day and what you can do to help!

Today is also National Whipped Cream Day

January is Get Organized Month & National Oatmeal Month

mages and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for January 5 1896 - It was reported by The Austrian newspaper that Wilhelm Roentgen had discovered the type of radiation that became known as X-rays. 1925 - Mrs. Nellie Taylor Ross was sworn in as the governor of Wyoming She was the first female governor in the U.S. 1933 - Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge began. 1934 - Both the National and American baseball leagues decided to use a uniform-size baseball. It was the first time in 33 years that both leagues used the same size ball. 1961 - "Mr. Ed" debuted. The show would run for six years. 1965 - The Supremes recorded "Stop! In the Name of Love." 1978 - Prince made his solo performance debut in Minneapolis, MN.

_________________________________________________

"At bottom every man knows well enough that he is a unique human being, only once on this earth; and by no extraordinary chance will such a marvelously picturesque piece of diversity in unity as he is, ever be put together a second time."

--Friedrich Nietzsche

Today is Wednesday, January 4th, 2012 

National Spaghetti Day

Today is National Spaghetti Day! Did you know that in the year 2000, 1.3 million pounds of spaghetti were sold in American grocery stores? If all of those packages were lined up, they would circle the Earth nine times!

The first historical reference to boiled noodles (found in the Jerusalem Talmud) suggests that the Arabs invented the dish thousands of years ago. What’s remarkable about this record is that it actually refers to dried noodles purchased from a vendor, which means that pasta has been sold in stores since at least the 5^th century!

Today we associate pasta with the Italians, who have revolutionized the dish and invented a wide variety of pasta shapes. These include farfalle, conchiglie, rotini, penne, tortellini, and, of course, spaghetti. Spaghetti is the most common round-rod type of pasta and in Italian, “spaghetti” means “little lines.” Spaghetti is most often served with tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese, but meat, garlic, oil, and pepper can also be added for extra flavor. 

To celebrate National Spaghetti Day, make spaghetti and meatballs for dinner or head to your favorite Italian restaurant. Enjoy!

Today is also Trivia Day

January is Get Organized Month & National Oatmeal Month

mages and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for January 4 1850 - The first American ice-skating club was organized in Philadelphia, PA. 1935 - Bob Hope was heard for the first time on network radio as part of "The Intimate Revue." 1936 - The first pop music chart based on national sales was published by "Billboard" magazine. 1958 - The Soviet satellite Sputknik I fell to the earth from its orbit. The craft had been launched on October 4, 1957. 1962 - New York City introduced a train that operated without conductors and motormen. 1981 - The Broadway show "Frankenstein" lost an estimated $2 million, when it opened and closed on the same night. 1984 - Wayne ‘The Great One’ Gretzky scored eight points (four goals and four assists) for the second time in his National Hockey League (NHL) career. Edmonton’s Oilers defeated the Minnesota North Stars, 12-8. The game was the highest-scoring NHL game to date.

_________________________________________________

"True happiness is of a retired nature, and an enemy to pomp and noise; it arises, in the first place, from the enjoyment of one’s self; and, in the next, from the friendship and conversation of a few select companions."

--Joseph Addison

Today is Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

Fruitcake Toss Day

Today is Fruitcake Toss Day! Fruitcakes are the holiday gift that no one asks for, but many people receive. If you still haven’t eaten or re-gifted your holiday fruitcake, today is the perfect excuse to toss it. Start the year with a clean pantry!

Every year in Manitou Springs, Colorado, there is a Great Fruitcake Toss in which people compete to see how far they can throw or hurtle their fruitcakes. People also use the cakes at this event to make little cars to race during a Fruitcake Derby.

The first Great Fruitcake Toss took place in 1995. The event has grown into a huge festival that attracts participants from across the country. So go ahead and join the rest of the nation today in throwing out your holiday fruitcakes!

Today is also National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day

January is Get Organized Month & National Oatmeal Month

mages and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for January 3 1823 - Stephen F. Austin received a grant from the Mexican government and began colonization in the region of the Brazos River in Texas. 1888 - The drinking straw was patented by Marvin C. Stone. 1938 - The March of Dimes was established by U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The organization fights poliomyelitis. The original name of the organization was the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. 1951 - NBC-TV debuted "Dragnet." 1957 - Fats Domino recorded "I'm Walkin'." 1964 - The Beatles made their first appearance on U.S. television in a film clip shown on the "Jack Paar Show." It was a performance of the song "She Loves You." 1993 - U.S. President George Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed the second Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in Moscow.

_________________________________________________

"Adversity is the state in which a man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free from admirers then."

--Dr. Samuel Johnson