It is Sunday, February 28 and there are only 127 days until the Fourth of July.  Don’t wait until the last minute to get your burgers, hot dogs, rolls and chips.  Start looking for ways to get your illegal fireworks home, too.  Today we remember the birthdays of Thomas Newcomen, Berthold Auerbach and Bugsy Siegel.  On this day in 1066 Westminster Abbey opened, in 1784 John Wesley chartered the Methodist Church and in 1935 nylon was discovered by Dr Wallace Carothers.  In Finland it is Kalevala Day and in Luxembourg it is Burgsonndeg, celebrating the end of winter.

As you know, tomorrow is February 29, Leap Day.  Have you ever wondered why we have Leap Years?  A Leap Year, where an extra day is added to the end of February every four years, is down to the solar system's disparity with the Gregorian calendar. 

A complete orbit of the earth around the sun takes exactly 365.2422 days to complete, but the Gregorian calendar uses 365 days. So leap seconds - and leap years - are added as means of keeping our clocks (and calendars) in sync with the Earth and its seasons. 

But why February?  All the other months in the Julian calendar have 30 or 31 days, but February lost out to the ego of Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus.  Under his predecessor Julius Caesar, February had 30 days and the month named after him - July - had 31.  August had only 29 days. When Caesar Augustus became Emperor he added two days to 'his' month to make August the same as July.   So February lost out to August in the battle of the extra days. 

Just to confuse the issue a little more before moving on, the year 2000 was a leap year, but the years 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not.   There's a leap year every year that is divisible by four, except for years that are both divisible by 100 and not divisible by 400.  The added rule about centuries (versus just every four years) was an additional fix to make up for the fact that an extra day every four years is too much of a correction.  I hope this clears everything up regarding Leap Year.

As I have mentioned in the past, I am convinced that inanimate objects are not really inanimate and they are out to drive me crazy.  Let me give you a couple examples.  I have a pair of jeans that gives me trouble every time I wear them. Just as I am about to put my leg in, the rear waist band of the jeans flops over preventing me from getting my leg in and causing me to hop around until I regain my balance and put my foot back down on the floor.  It usually takes at least two attempts before I get them on.  I have tried different methods, like sitting down (same result without the hopping) or starting with my left foot instead of my right, to no avail.  At one time I was convinced it was just one particular pair of jeans, so I stopped wearing that pair. As a result, a different pair has taken up the responsibility.  Fortunately, so far, it is only one pair that creates the problem … so far.

Another problem I have is with the iron we use.  When I start to fill it with water, I have two issues.  The first is that just as I start to pour in the water, it stops going in and spills all over.  I have tried pouring slowly, trickling it in and doing small amounts at a time, but I still have the same spill over.  I am not sure if the iron problems are caused by the inanimate object demon or the way the iron was manufactured.  There is a fill line that is hard to see (this one to the manufacturer).  As I pour the water in, once I get passed the spillover, it takes forever to see the level come up and then suddenly I am in danger of overfilling (demon).  

Another problem is the fault of the manufacturer.  They tell you to tilt the iron when filling.  I do that and when the water reaches the fill line, I stop.  But I have noticed that when you stand the iron back up, the level is above the fill line.  When things like this happen I feel like I can almost hear the designer chuckling.

There are numerous other incidents that I could bore you with like the problem with bags collapsing just as I go to pour trash in and other things, but I think I sound nuts enough with what I have already mentioned.  The only thing I would say is watch how inanimate objects act when you are trying to do things.  Does everything always go smoothly?  I don’t want to make anyone paranoid, just careful.

This week our fact tells us that during their periods, women’s middle fingers shrink, but no one knows why.  Of course this does not prevent those women from exhibiting said finger if you annoy them or make comments about them during that time.

It is Sunday, February 21 and there are only 308 days until Christmas.  Based on the way retailers have been pushing seasons, the stores should have their decorations up soon.  Today we remember the birthdays of Christoph Stoltzenberg, Eduard Rappoldi and Pierre Mercure.  On this day in 1431 England began the trial of Joan of Arc, in 1846 Sarah G Bagley became the first woman telegrapher 

(--. --- --- -.. 

.--- --- -…  … .- .-. .- ….) and in 1972 Richard Nixon became the first US President to visit China.  In Bangladesh it is Bangladesh Martyrs Day/National Mourning Day and world wide it is Brotherhood Day.

I apologize that I do not really have anything this week.  Things have been a little busy and I just have not had the opportunity to observe the crazies.  I will admit that there were a couple items I wanted to bring up, but I did not write them down and now they have escaped my mind.  The lovely Elaine has always said that she does not want to learn and remember new things.  She reasons that there is only so much brain capacity available.  That means that if something new comes in something old might go out. She is concerned that the old item might be something like how to breathe or when to use the bathroom.  I have no proof that she is right, but I have no proof that she is wrong.

I was going to say that there were no interesting holidays to talk about, but I decided to do some research.  I have come up with some that I think we should all observe.  There are a couple we missed but are worth mentioning for next year.  Specifically, February 5 was National Shower with a Friend Day and February 18 was National Drink Wine Day.  We actually did drink wine on the 18^th, but were unaware that we were celebrating.  We just thought we were having wine.  Coming up tomorrow is National Margarita Day.  I think I will make a point of observing that one. 

 

For those of you who like to plan ahead, here are some good days coming up in March.  On 3/4 it is Nat’l Pound Cake Day, 3/6 is Nat’l Oreo Cookie Day, 3/8 is Nat’l Pancake Day, 3/9 is Nat’l Meatball Day, 3/13 is Nat’l Open an Umbrella Indoors Day, 3/14 is Nat’l Napping Day (a new favorite of mine), 3/19 Nat’l Chocolate Caramel Day (another new favorite) and on 3/23 Nat’l Chip and Dip Day.  So now you can be prepared and not miss the celebrations.

In the future, I will try to remember how I found this site so that I can alert you to upcoming national days.  But, to quote my older grandson, “I’m not making any promises.”

This week our fact tells us that America’s first nudist organization was founded in 1929 by three men.  Go figure!  Three men started an organization to get people to walk around nude.  They claimed it was healthy.  We all know they just used it as an excuse to see women naked.

It is Sunday, February 14.  Happy Valentine’s Day!  This is the only day when it is okay to walk around with a heart on.  I know.  I use that every year but I don’t think it ever gets old.  The lovely Elaine would disagree.  Anyway, today we remember the birthdays of Johann Pistorius, Richard Allen and Thelma Ritter.  On this day in 1848 James Polk became the first president photographed in office, in 1883 the first state labor union legislation was passed; New Jersey legalized unions and in 1971 the movie “Ben Hur” was shown on TV for the first time.  In Arizona and Oregon it is Admission Day, in Bulgaria it is Viticulturists’ Day and worldwide it is St Valentine’s Day.

As has always been my practice, I continue to try and offer you more information for your Useless Information file regarding Valentine’s Day.  I try not to duplicate stuff from past years, but if I do, sorry.

The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl–possibly his jailer’s daughter–who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today.

St. Valentine has wide-ranging spiritual responsibilities. People call on him to watch over the lives of lovers, of course, but also for interventions regarding beekeeping and epilepsy, as well as the plague, fainting and traveling.

The medieval English poet Geoffrey Chaucer often took liberties with history, placing his poetic characters into fictitious historical contexts that he represented as real.  No record exists of romantic celebrations on Valentine’s Day prior to a poem Chaucer wrote around 1375. In his work “Parliament of Foules,” he links a tradition of courtly love with the celebration of St. Valentine’s feast day–an association that didn’t exist until after his poem received widespread attention.  The poem refers to February 14 as the day birds (and humans) come together to find a mate.  When Chaucer wrote, “For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne’s day / Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate,” he may have invented the holiday we know today.

So now that I have given you the latest on Valentine’s Day, let’s move on to another important holiday. We saw earlier that today is also Viticulturists’ Day in Bulgaria so, the question is what is a Viticulturist?  Viticulturists plan, supervise and coordinate the growing of selected grape varieties for the production of wine.  I don’t know about you but I have been celebrating these people for years.  I didn’t realize they had an official title.  I always just called them the wine guys.  To all Viticulturists, in Bulgaria and everywhere, thank you for your dedication to your craft.

I had the opportunity to go to the mall with the lovely Elaine the other day and thought I would mention one or two things that I noticed.  One thing I have become aware of is the scents that are in the mall.  I used to think that what we smelled was coming from a candle store or a fragrance kiosk.  Now I am not so sure.  We were walking past a men’s clothing store and were getting - the only term I can think of is - assaulted by an aroma that I would not normally associate with men’s clothing.  I paused to look around and did not see a candle shop or anyplace that would be giving off that smell.  I am wondering if the mall puts this scent out to counteract the orders that humans give off, if you know what I mean.

Another thing I noticed was that every store we passed wanted you to buy something there for your Valentine.  I have a hard time believing that my Valentine, or most Valentines, would be content with a nice pair of socks.  “Joe bought me roses and a bracelet for Valentine’s Day.  What did you get?”  “I got a nice pair of socks with pink hearts on them.”  I think the sock recipient will be back on the market in time for St Patrick’s Day.  How about buying a nice candle for your sweetie?  I certainly wouldn’t buy a candle for my sweetie.  It would hurt when she “gave” it back to me.  Aside from the lack of romance involved, most candles cause the lovely Elaine’s asthma to bother her.  We used to buy a particular candle scent that didn’t bother her asthma, but they stopped making that one.

I prefer holidays like St Patrick’s Day.  That is a day of parades, eating and drinking.  What more do you need?  How about Presidents Day?  This is a day that combined the birthdays of two presidents into one Monday holiday that most people don’t get off anymore, but we don’t have to get anyone a gift.  I generally like holidays that call for relaxing, eating and drinking.  These are the ones where all you have to worry about is what food to grill and what the viticulturists provided us with.  I think we should have at least one Eating and Drinking Monday each month so that we can celebrate without having to buy gifts.  If any of you want to start that movement, let me know.  I will support it.

This week our fact tells us that 3.9% of all women do not wear underwear.  I am not sure how anyone would know this for sure, but I am willing to do some research on it just to verify the truth.  I would hate to pass on incorrect information.

It is Sunday, February 7.  I know, where has the time gone?  we are already 1/12^th of the way through the year!  There are only 211 days until Labor Day so watch for those back to school specials.  Today we remember the birthdays of Anna Ivanova Romanova, Frederick Douglass and Eubie Blake.  On this day in 1668 Dutch Prince William III danced in the premiere of “Ballet of Peace”, in 1818 the first successful US educational magazine “Academician” began and in 1974 Mel Brooks’ “Blazing Saddles opened in movie theaters.  In Switzerland yesterday was Homstrom, in Grenada today is Independence Day and World-wide it is Boy Scouts Day.

First let me make a point that I am pretty sure I have not made in a while.  When you look at the top of this blog it says that it was published on February 6.  I actually wait until it is Sunday, in this case February 7, to publish.  Apparently while I am publishing it here on the east coast on Sunday, it is being received on the left coast on Saturday.  You gotta love time zones.  I hope that clears up any confusion that may arise from the difference in dates.

Next, you might remember that last week I was lamenting the lack of cool holidays in the US.  Another example of that is the holiday in Switzerland – Homstrom.  One of the things that makes this interesting is that it celebrates the end of winter.  They are celebrating the end of winter on the first weekend in February!  That in itself is just a little strange.  I believe I covered this last year, but I just thought you might like a little refresher.

The "hom strom" is the famous "Straw Man of Scuol" that is set alight on the first Saturday in February every year. On that day, the boys of Scuol go from farm to farm collecting straw which they then take down to the village square. There, it is artfully tied together to make a huge straw man. Come the afternoon, "l’hom strom" is taken to Gurlaina and there set up ready for burning and carefully guarded to protect him from pranksters. At dusk, the people of Scuol parade through the village streets singing songs and once they have arrived at the Gurlaina set a light to the straw man they went to such lengths to make. This death by fire symbolizes the rapidly approaching end of winter.

Also, last week I discussed some issues I had with commercials for various drugs.  Another question came to me this week as I was confronted by more of these commercials.  Here is my question – what makes the creators of this stuff think that I will be moved to ask about their product by seeing animated organs such as the bladder and the digestive system?  I like the one where the digestive system walks along, looks in a fish tank, sits down at a table and starts to peruse a menu.  When the commercial ends the announcer says ask your doctor if such and such a drug is right for you.  Why can’t the blobby digestive system ask the doctor.  If it can read a menu, it should be able to do that.

The other issue I have with this is why should you have to ask your doctor?  If he or she is current in their field, they should know about the drug and would probably prescribe it for you if you needed it.  Would it not be reasonable to assume that if he is not suggesting it, it is because it is not right for you or you don’t need it?  If you have so little confidence in your doctor that you have to start asking him about medicines, maybe you need to change doctors.

Now how’s this for a segue – that brings me to commercials that have been showing for an insurance company.  They keep talking about how their company is better than the other ones because they don’t raise your rates when you have an accident and the others do and that you should change your company.  One or two of the commercials are good and talk about how you are hit by someone else and they take care of you.  The others are not so good and one I find a little stupid.  There are ways to get a message across, but generally I think they just miss the mark.  The one that really gets me is the one where the person is talking about all the research you do before buying a car, then it goes on to say that you smash your new car into a tree.  The commercial says that your insurance company is ready to raise your rates and maybe you should have researched the insurance company.  No!  You should have spent some time learning how to drive well enough that you could have avoided hitting the tree in the first place.

This week our fact tells us that 55,700 people in the US are injured by jewelry each year.  A good portion of those injuries are preceded by the words, “You slept with my best friend?”