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Showing posts from August, 2023

International Whale Shark Day (August 30th)

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Quick facts When is it? Every August 30th Tagged as Animals What are the hashtags? #WhaleSharkDay #InternationalWhaleSharkDay Have we missed something? The bunnies have got Easter sewn up and Christmas is all about Rudolph, so it’s only fair that everyone’s favourite fish, the whale shark, gets a bite at the cherry. Learn about International Whale Shark Day International Whale Shark Day has been designed so that we can celebrate and increase awareness about these amazing sea-dwelling creatures. We need to protect and conserve the whale shark, as their numbers are declining. These gentle giants fascinate aquatic enthusiasts and marine biologists alike, yet it is up to us to make sure that their numbers increase and their futures are protected. This is what International Whale Shark Day is all about. Whale sharks are incredible to look at, and even more fascinating to learn about. However, they are becoming endangered. They are actually one of the most vulnerable

National Grief Awareness Day (August 30th)

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Quick facts When is it? Every August 30th What's the official website? nationalgriefawarenessday.com Tagged as Life & Living People & Relationships What are the hashtags? #GriefAwarenessDay #NationalGriefAwarenessDay Who founded it? Angie Cartwright Have we missed something? Sometimes even the brightest of days can be dark when the difficulties of life rear their ugly heads. But there is a silver lining to this, there are those that are willing to help us through these darker days. This is all about looking at grief, and raising awareness both of how to cope with grief, and how to help others cope. So look around and offer that helping hand, lend an ear and join us on National Grief Awareness Day to show those around us that we are here for them. History of National Grief Awareness Day To truly understand how to help people, including yourself, cope with grief, sometimes it is best to try and understand exactly what grief is. It is usually in respo

A perfect home for the RI State Archives is the Shepard Building – David Brussat

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by David Brusat, Architecture Here and There, contributing writer Almost nobody has noticed that a perfect match mates two of Rhode Island’s most critical needs. With URI moving out of the Shepard Building, why not move the state archives there instead of erecting a new and inevitably ugly building across Smith Street from the State House for that agency? Such a building was proposed several years ago, but the General Assembly refused to fund it. Thankfully. My friend Mary Shepard (no relation to the Shepard Co. people) mentioned to me the other day that URI was no longer in the Shepard Building, which it had occupied since the state renovated it to great fanfare in 1996. Mary suggests that the state archives be moved from its current rented location at 33 Broad St. to the Shepard Building, which hosts not just the College of Continuing Education but the office of the Rhode Island Department of Education . Buff Chace, who has worked tirelessly to revitalize downtown si

National Dive Bar Day (July 7th)

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Quick facts When is it? Every July 7th Tagged as Alcohol Beer Spirits & Liquers Wine What are the hashtags? #DiveBarDay #NationalDiveBarDay Have we missed something? Life isn’t a cabaret. It’s a dive bar. Woody Paige Support and celebrate the iconic subculture of the dive bar by participating in National Dive Bar Day! History of National Dive Bar Day The origins of the Dive Bar go back to the late 1800s. The term “dive” was used even prior to prohibition to describe a bar that was rather basic, offering inexpensive drinks in a decidedly non-glamorous setting. It might be a bit shabby – and perhaps a bit sticky – but the devoted clientele knows what to expect and they are rarely disappointed. Originally considered a derogatory term, “dive bar” may have come from the idea that these establishments were often located in basements, where patrons had to dive down in order to get into the door. But, more recently, the term has become an endearing one which is

Pony Express Day (August 27th, 2023)

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Quick facts When is it? August 31st, 2014 August 30th, 2015 August 28th, 2016 August 27th, 2017 August 26th, 2018 August 25th, 2019 August 30th, 2020 August 29th, 2021 August 28th, 2022 August 27th, 2023 August 25th, 2024 August 31st, 2025 What's the date pattern? Last Sunday of August What's the hashtag? #PonyExpressDay Have we missed something? Pony Express Day celebrates those brave souls who made up the unique mail delivery system of the same name. Back in the days of the wild west, there was no Fed Ex, no Postal Service that ran that far west, no planes, and delivery by ship were likely to take months if it ever got there at all. Seeing this need for a specialized delivery service, Leavenworth and Pike’s Peak Express Company took an opportunity to expand into this void. From this important decision was born one of the most iconic pieces of American History , whose i NFL uence is felt in hundreds of Pony Express Day Festivals throughout the American Midw

National Dog Day (August 26th)

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Quick facts When is it? Every August 26th What's the official website? nationaldogday.com Tagged as Animals Dogs What are the hashtags? #InternationalDogDay #DogDay #NationalDogDay Who founded it? National Dog Day Foundation Have we missed something? No one can win hearts like man’s best friend and in honor of this bond between man and canine, National Dog Day is celebrated. Take time to appreciate the love and value that dogs bring to our daily lives, and to do your bit for homeless and abused dogs the world over. From keeping us safe working for the emergency services to supporting people who are blind, deaf, or disabled, dogs do a lot for us humans, and this is an opportunity to give something back. Learn about National Dog Day No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich. National Dog Day has been created so that all breeds of dogs are celebrated; mixed and pure. The day helps to galvanize the public so tha

International Strange Music Day (August 24th)

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Quick facts When is it? Every August 24th Tagged as Hobbies & Activities Music What are the hashtags? #StrangeMusicDay #InternationalStrangeMusicDay Have we missed something? For those who have a tendency to lean toward the unique and bizarre, this is one day that will feed that strange musical soul! International Strange Music Day pulls out all the stops when it comes to going beyond the normal and opening up to a world with new horizons. When it comes to the ‘strange’ part, this can mean either unfamiliar or bizarre – or both! The choice is entirely personal and up to the individual. In either case, International Strange Music Day is meant to expand the ear toward new sounds. History of International Strange Music Day International Strange Music Day was created by Patrick Grant, who was a New York City musician and composer at the time. The premise of the day is simple: to get people to play and listen to types of music they have never experienced before

Burger Day (August 24th, 2023)

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Quick facts When is it? August 27th, 2013 August 27th, 2014 August 27th, 2015 August 25th, 2016 August 31st, 2017 August 23rd, 2018 August 22nd, 2019 August 27th, 2020 August 26th, 2021 August 25th, 2022 August 24th, 2023 August 22nd, 2024 August 21st, 2025 August 27th, 2026 What's the date pattern? Thursday before bank holiday weekend in August (United Kingdom) Tagged as Food & Drink What's the hashtag? #BurgerDay Have we missed something? At the base level, a burger is a piece of meat and a bun with something on it. It’s simple but it seems to make a lot of people happy. Danny Meyer Burgers are indeed the source of true happiness, a fact supported by the rich cheesy topping, crisp flavorful onion, and splash of tomato that brings it all together with a pickle tang finish. Or maybe you’re a bolder sort, enjoying their burger topped with onion rings and barbecue sauce in a true Western-style and a splash of blue cheese. Whatever the case, it’s hard to

National Mutt Day (July 31st, 2023)

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Quick facts When is it? July 31st, 2017 December 2nd, 2017 July 31st, 2018 December 2nd, 2018 July 31st, 2019 December 2nd, 2019 July 31st, 2020 December 2nd, 2020 July 31st, 2021 December 2nd, 2021 July 31st, 2022 December 2nd, 2022 July 31st, 2023 December 2nd, 2023 July 31st, 2024 December 2nd, 2024 What's the date pattern? July 31st and December 2nd Tagged as Animals Dogs What are the hashtags? #MuttDay #NationalMuttDay Have we missed something? A mutt is couture-it’s the only one like it in the world, made especially for you. Isaac Mizrahi Forget about purebred dogs. On this day, National Mutt Day, mixed breeds and mutts are what it’s all about! History of National Mutt Day Although the word “mutt” can sometimes have a negative connotation in the English language, it simply means that the dog’s parents were not registered and were not both of the same breed. Other terms for this might be “mixed breed”. This truly has no bearing on the quality of the d

Happiness Happens Month (August 2023)

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Quick facts When is it? Every August Tagged as Children Family Hobbies & Activities Men People & Relationships What's the hashtag? #HappinessHappensMonth When was it founded? 1998 Who founded it? The Society of Happy People (SOHP) Have we missed something? What makes you happy? Happiness Happens Month is a whole month dedicated to celebrating what makes you happy. The holiday is based on the premise that happiness is unlimited and contagious and that sharing one’s happiness and can bring a lot of joy in other people’s lives. Even though Happiness Happens Month sounds silly, it does have a very important purpose. “The month reminds us that happiness happens one small moment at a time and it’s our job to recognize those moments when they happen. It reminds us that sometimes a small action boosts our happiness. It reminds us that happiness is a personal experience and it’s also contagious!” The History of Happiness Happens Month Pamela Gail Johnson

National Pinot Noir Day (August 18th)

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Quick facts When is it? Every August 18th Tagged as Alcohol Food & Drink What are the hashtags? #PinotNoirDay #NationalPinotNoirDay Have we missed something? The most romantic of wines, with so voluptuous a perfume, so sweet an edge, and so powerful a punch that, like falling in love, they make the blood run hot and the soul wax embarrassingly poetic Master Sommelier Madeline Triffon Pinot is a fantastic wine, but a temperamental grape. With its rich color and complex flavors, it is largely considered one of the most hedonistic wines ever made. Elegant and berry-lie, its velvet flavor is the perfect addition to any affair. National Pinot Noir Day celebrates this wine and the regions of the world in which it’s cultivated. History of National Pinot Noir Day Every wine deserves to have a day dedicated to its consumption, and none more so than Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir is so named due to the dark color of the grapes, and the pine-cone shaped clusters they grow in

Break The Monotony Day (August 19th, 2023)

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Quick facts When is it? August 20th, 2016 August 19th, 2017 August 18th, 2018 August 17th, 2019 August 15th, 2020 August 21st, 2021 August 20th, 2022 August 19th, 2023 August 17th, 2024 August 16th, 2025 What's the date pattern? Third Saturday of August Tagged as Hobbies & Activities What's the hashtag? #BreakTheMonotonyDay Have we missed something? People, chained by monotony, afraid to think, clinging to certainties… they live like ants. Bela Lugosi Get up. Shower. Get Dressed. Have Coffee. Eat the same bagel with cream cheese. Do your commute. Go to your job. Spend the day doing the same job you did yesterday. Punch out. Commute Home. Dinner. TV. Sleep. Do it all again tomorrow. There’s a certain security in a steady schedule, but too much of the same thing gets you stuck in a rut and the monotony can just plain kill you. When was the last time you took a day to do something spontaneous? Have you varied your day to day path by even a little? Break th