May 31, 2015

Daily Holidays - May 31

National Macaroon Day Macaroons are flourless, often almond-based light cakes, made with whipped egg-whites and sugar (sometimes also with coconut, potato starch or nuts), and date back to a 9th century Italian monastery. Enjoy Macaroon Day by making your own macaroons from scratch – try adding cinnamon, ginger, hazelnuts or chocolate! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/macaroon-day/


World No-Tobacco Day No Tobacco Day is a day to draw attention to the negative effects of tobacco and smoking, where each year the WHO awards individuals and organisations who make an exceptional contribution to the reduction of smoking and tobacco consumption.

Addiction to smoking is a serious problem for many people, and breaking the habit can take months – if not years – of dedication and willpower.

Whilst there are off-the-shelf products available to help with the process, a common approach to kick-start breaking the habit it talking to qualified substance abuse counselors, who are experts at helping people in their efforts to quit smoking. Whether it’s No Tobacco Day or not, any day is a good day to quit smoking anything more serious than tobacco, such as drugs. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/no-tobacco-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/may31.html

May 30, 2015

Daily Holidays - May 30

National Mint Julep Day Were you desperately hoping for a refreshing bourbon cocktail but frustrated that you didn’t have a good enough excuse? Thankfully for you, Mint Julep Day is here to pander to your wildest fantasies… just as long as those fantasies involved sipping this classic cocktail.

Mint julep originates in the southern USA and still counts this area as its heartland. This is especially true of Kentucky where the annual Kentucky Derby horse race sees around 120,000 juleps served each year. Premium versions of the drink are served in gold-plated cups with silver straws at a cost of $1000, but you don’t need to spend quite as much as that to enjoy the day. The ingredients are simple: bourbon, mint leaf, sugar and water. However, no two bartenders seem to make the drink in the same way, which is all the more reason to sample a few before this special day is over! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/mint-julep-day/

Loomis Day commemorates Mahlom Loomis, who patented his wireless telegraphing inventions on May 30, 1872 (whilst working as a dentist in Washington DC).

He had actually claimed to have succeeded in wireless telegraphy some 6 years earlier, though with no witnesses present to see this, May 30th is one of the earliest official recognitions of his triumph. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/loomis-day/

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

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

Despite the fact that Neighbor Day lasts just a day, that doesn’t mean it should be the only day to care about your neighbors. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/neighbor-day/

Water A Flower Day If it hadn’t been for coffee, cocoa, vanilla, lavender, camomile, marijuana, and many other flowering plants and trees, our world would have been a barren, dismal place. So Water a Flower Day is that yearly reminder to show our flowers how much we appreciate them for their sumptuous colours, their fragrant blossoms and their medicinal, or sometimes lethal, properties.

The best way to celebrate Water a Flower Day is by giving all of your household and garden plants an aquatic treat. Also, studies show that gently caressing them in the way that a diaphanous zephyr would in their natural habitat promotes growth, so don’t be shy, give their leaves a tender squeeze. Unless you own a Rafflesia Arnoldii, the largest flower on the planet, which doesn’t have any leaves and is also known as the ‘corpse flower’ due to the odour it oozes when disturbed. That’s one plant we wouldn’t mind forgetting to water, isn’t it? Best stick to roses and lilies, I say, and water them, stroke and sing to them like you would to a child. You’ll be a better person for it and you’d make the world a brighter, sweeter and more colourful place. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/water-a-flower-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/may30.html

May 29, 2015

Daily Holidays - May 29

Biscuit Day Calling all smart cookies! Biscuit Day offers the perfect chance to go crackers about one of the world’s most popular snacks. But did you realise just how many types of biscuit there are?

American biscuits are small crusty bread rolls, often served at breakfast or as a side dish. However, in the UK, the word “biscuit” is used for flat sweet treats which are known as “cookies” in the US. One of the most unusual traditional British varieties is the Garibaldi. Also known as the “squashed fly biscuit”, it contains currants in between two layers of dough.

There are few crumbs of information about just how Biscuit Day started, but that’s no reason to miss out on the celebrations. So bake up a treat for friends and family, or just settle down with a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy one of your favourite varieties. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/biscuit-day/

Learn About Composting Day Compost is an eco-friendly, cheap and effective option for fertilising your garden, plants and crops. Learn About Composting Day encourages you to explore the world of composting, and to identify all of the different types of household waste that can contribute to your composting efforts. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/learn-about-composting-day/

Put A Pillow On Your Fridge Day Your pillow brings you comfort every night but you’ve probably been frustrated at how this resource is often wastefully ignored throughout each day. However, during Put A Pillow On Your Fridge Day you can make sure your pillow is working all day to bring you prosperity and good fortune.

Before the invention of refrigerators in the 1920s, people in Europe and the USA would put cloth in their larder for good luck once a year. Food storage habits have changed since then, putting the future of this fine tradition in doubt. However, this event has survived the scare and is back stronger than ever. All you need to do is place a pillow on your fridge on the correct day. The observant among you may notice that the true equivalent of the old tradition would be to put a pillow inside your fridge. Perhaps try both to make sure you don’t miss out on any of that luck! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/put-a-pillow-on-your-fridge-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/may29.html

May 28, 2015

Leo Drey dies; Missouri's largest private landowner until he gave it all away

For decades, city boy Leo Drey drove across dusty Ozark roads, introducing himself to farmers and offering to buy their timberland. Much of that land was nearly worthless from years of neglect by lumber companies.

But Drey had a grand plan to make money from the wrecked forests. He would restore them, selectively harvest and sell some timber while preserving the rest for nature lovers, recreation and gradual harvesting later.

To the surprise of many, Drey’s pioneering ideas worked. His forests thrived and he became a multimillionaire. His buying trips paid off and eventually he became Missouri’s largest private landowner.

Then he gave it all away — to a foundation he set up to preserve the land.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/obituaries/leo-drey-dies-missouri-s-largest-private-landowner-until-he/article_736f1bd8-6103-5202-aad0-7f74cb8f9234.html

May 28, 2015

Granite City Steel not closing

Granite City, IL – U.S. Steel will not close its Granite City mill as had been expected, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Mike Bost said Thursday, May 28, 2015. Instead, it will lay off about 80 workers and keep one blast furnace in operation, spokesman Jim Forbes said.

Forbes said Bost’s office was informed of the decision by U.S. Steel, which owns the mill.

The company had planned a temporary shutdown of the entire mill by today, which would have meant laying off about 2,000 workers.

http://labortribune.com/granite-city-steel-shutdown-fast-approaching/

May 28, 2015

Investors Win in Supreme Court 401(k) Decision

http://blog.aarp.org/2015/05/22/investors-win-in-supreme-court-401k-decision/?sf38331640=1

The U.S. Supreme Court this week sent a strong message to employers offering 401(k)s: You can’t just pick investments for the plan and then forget about them.

This unanimous decision is expected to provide greater protection for 401(k) participants who increasingly rely on these plans to fund their retirement. And it may also trigger more lawsuits by workers unhappy with their investment options and the fees charged, legal experts say.

“Participants over the long term should benefit from all of this,” says Rick Meigs, president of 401khelpcenter.com. “It will drive plan sponsors or brokers to try to deliver funds that they can legally defend” for being in the plans.

The case, Tibble v. Edison, was originally filed in 2007. Employees of Edison International, a California-based utility, claimed that the company failed in its fiduciary duty to workers when selecting six mutual funds in the 401(k) plan. Funds can have a variety of share classes with different fees. The workers argued Edison breached its duty by choosing more expensive retail-class mutual funds when nearly identical and cheaper institutional-class funds were available.

May 28, 2015

Retailers provide assistance to Texas flood victims

H-E-B, Whole Foods Market and Brookshire Brothers pitched in after devastating floods in Texas earlier this week.

In San Marcos and Wimberley, H-E-B said it would give out 3,000 Disaster Relief Clean-up Kits containing trash bags, paper towels, bleach, all purpose spray cleaner, gloves, sunscreen and insect repellent.

H-E-B also handed out hot meals in San Marcos via its Mobile Kitchen, and provided the American Red Cross with hot meals for its delivery service.

Whole Foods announced it would provide $1 million in zero-interest loans to businesses in the Shoal Creek flood area. In 1981, the retailer’s original store was damaged by flooding.

http://supermarketnews.com/community-service/retailers-provide-assistance-texas-flood-victims

May 28, 2015

UFCW launches ads to support California scheduling legislation

The Western States Council of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union said Wednesday it has launched television and radio ads in support of the California Fair Scheduling Act, which would provide more predictable schedules for retail workers.

The proposed legislation, introduced in the California Assembly, would require employers to provide two weeks’ notice on schedules and would pay workers for any last-minute changes.

The TV ad, entitled “Fairness,” will run in the Bay Area and various cities in Northern California “to educate the public about the legislation and encourage people to call legislators to show their support,” the UFCW said in a statement.

“Hundreds of thousands of workers in California will benefit from this bill — workers that can’t get fair notice on their schedules and must cope with last-minute changes,” said Jim Araby, executive director of the UFCW’s Western States Council.

http://supermarketnews.com/government/ufcw-launches-ads-support-california-scheduling-legislation

May 28, 2015

Daily Holidays - May 28

National Hamburger Day The humble hamburger is a staple of western culture. Burger joints, takeaway food outlets and all-night-eateries serve them up in their millions – with cheese, salad, gherkins and pickles, bacon and sauces. Why not celebrate Hamburger Day by making your own hamburgers? https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/hamburger-day/

Amnesty International Day Amnesty International is probably the most well-known human rights group in the world. The international organisation was founded in 1961 by a British lawyer and works on a number of human rights causes including ending the death penalty, ensuring free trials and for the release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. These are people imprisoned for non-legal reasons, such as their religion or ethnicity. At Christmas, Amnesty International organises a greetings card campaign, where supporters send Christmas cards to political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, to remind them that they are not forgotten.

Amnesty International Day is a chance to do your bit by attending a local meeting, making a donation, signing a petition or writing a letter of hope to a prisoner of conscience. Even better, do all of the above! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/amnesty-international-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/may28.html

May 27, 2015

Daily Holidays - May 27

National Grape Popsicle
 Day Did you know…

Popsicles were originally marketed as “a frozen drink on a stick”.
Popsicles originally came in seven flavors thought to be root beer, cherry, lemon, orange, banana, grape, and watermelon, but there is no official record of Epperson’s original flavors.
The most popular Popsicle flavor is Cherry.
More than two billion Popsicles are sold each year.

http://foodimentary.com/2014/05/27/may-27-national-grape-popsicle-day-2/

Sunscreen Day As Baz Luhrmann once sang “If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.” It’s sage advice! Years of health campaigns have ensured that we all know that sun screen is very important. In fact, it’s essential to wear and regularly reapply sun screen when out in the sun.

Sun screen defends the skin from damaging ultraviolet rays by forming a protective barrier – used properly, sun screen can help prevent skin cancer. Exposure to the sun also damages the skin and can worsen signs of ageing, so wearing sun screen will also keep your skin looking younger.

Use Sun Screen Day as a reminder to make sure you are properly protecting yourself from the sun, such as by keeping out of the rays at the hottest time of the day (11 am – 2pm), drinking plenty of liquids and, of course, wearing sun screen! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/sun-screen-day/

Senior Health & Fitness Day For Grandma, Grandpa, Granny, Gramps, Nana, Papa and all our well-loved elders, Senior Health & Fitness Day is a time to explore the many senior-friendly physical activity options, and to understand the importance of exercise and nutrition for ongoing health and illness-prevention. A healthy diet can boost energy and immunity, and regular exercise is necessary to retain bone mass and lower the risk of fractures, and to build muscle strength and reduce the risk of falls.

Various community events will be staged on Senior Health & Fitness Day, and seniors are encouraged to attend for health screenings and diet and exercise information sessions. Low-impact, non-competitive exercise program choices may include stretching, walking and swimming, all designed to increase strength and flexibility. And although Grandma is probably an excellent cook, she may be able to pick up a few healthy tips to make her legendary meals even more delicious and nutritious. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/senior-health-fitness-day/

Cellophane Tape Day In 1921, a banjo playing inventor went to work for the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, known as 3M. Four years later, Richard Drew walked out of his lab carrying the first roll of Scotch Tape. In 1930, he also created cellophane tape. Without this man, we’d still be wrapping up our Christmas packages with string. Celebrate Cellophane Tape Day by taping up anything you can get your hands on! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cellophane-tape-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/may27.html