June 21, 2015

Daily Holidays - June 21

National Peaches and 
Cream Day Annually celebrated on June 21, it is National Peaches ‘n’ Cream Day. Peaches ‘n’ Cream sound like a perfect way to start summer solstice. Actually, it sounds like the perfect way to end summer solstice as well!
(See National Daylight Appreciation Day for the meaning of summer solstice.)

Peaches ‘n’ Cream is a simple, traditional and delicious summertime dessert. http://nationaldaycalendar.com/days-2/national-peaches-n-cream-day-june-21/

Father’s Day Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Many countries celebrate it on the third Sunday of June, though it is also celebrated widely on other days by many other countries. https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Father's_Day

National Daylight Appreciation Day National Daylight Appreciation Day is observed each year on June 21. This day recognizes summer solstice (the longest day of daylight in the northern hemisphere) and encourages people to celebrate the many benefits of the sun.

National Daylight Appreciation Day is also a day to learn more about the importance of daylighting. Daylighting is defined as lighting an indoor space with openings, such as windows and skylights, that will allow daylight into the home or building. Daylighting is chosen to save energy, to avoid hypothesized adverse health effects of over-illumination by artificial light and for aesthetics. Daylight factor is the ratio between the measured internal and external light levels of the amount of daylight that is received into an indoor space or room.

Installing fewer electric lights because daylight is present or dimming/switching electric lights automatically in response to the presence of daylight can reduce artificial lighting energy. This process is known as daylight harvesting.

Daylight has positive psychological effects; it can boost your mental health and help to lower depression as well as help with increased energy levels. The Vitamin D, that we naturally get from the sun, has many health benefits for us. http://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-daylight-appreciation-day-june-21/

World Humanist Day Celebrated on the day of the June solstice, World Humanist Day is a coming together of organisations and individuals which value science and rationalism over divinity and the supernatural.

Created during the 1980s by people affiliated to American Humanist Association, the day is regarded as the only holiday for free thought in the world. In recent years, it has grown rapidly and even received television coverage in some nations.

The way in which it is celebrated differs greatly from country to country, with some groups hosting parties and others favouring conferences and activism.

The main point of World Humanist Day is to try and make the world a better place by increasing the public’s knowledge of scientific methods in hope that it will dispel many age-old myths.

Well known supporters of World Humanist Day include the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, best-selling author Phillip Pullman, the philosopher AC Grayling and the comedian Tim Minchin. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-humanist-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/june21.html

June 20, 2015

Daily Holidays - June 20

National Vanilla Milkshake Day National Vanilla Milkshake Day is happily celebrated by many people on June 20th of each year. You can celebrate this day by making a homemade vanilla flavored milkshake for you and your family to enjoy today.

The first time the term “milkshake” was used in print was in 1885. At this time, milkshake referred to an alcoholic beverage which was a whiskey drink described as a “study, healthful eggnog type of drink with eggs, whiskey and etc., served as a tonic as well as a treat”.

By 1900, a milkshake was often referred to as “wholesome drinks made with chocolate, strawberry or vanilla syrups”. A few years later in the early 1900?s, people began asking for this new treat with a scoop of ice cream. It was then by the 1930’s that milkshakes were a popular drink in malt shops everywhere.

Maybe you want to top off your vanilla milkshake with a little whipped cream and a cherry on top!! http://nationaldaycalendar.com/days-2/national-vanilla-milkshake-day-june-20/

World Productivity Day One of the less well-known celebratory days, World Productivity Day does not have a central focus for celebration. It’s instead an occasion for suppliers of productivity tools, training and advances to celebrate their contributions and give something back to their users. For example, some consultancy firms use the event to provide free online sessions to prospective clients to demonstrate what a difference focus on productivity can make.

Other, less obviously relevant, businesses also use World Productivity Day to draw attention to their products and services in the context of getting the most out of work. Coffee and other caffeinated beverage manufacturers use the day as a chance to promote the putative benefits of using their products to stay alert and productive at work. Companies that sell products such as chocolate that can be used to reward productivity may also choose to use the occasion as a chance to promote this. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-productivity-day/

World Juggling Day Whether you’re a juggling junkie or a total novice, Juggling Day was started for jugglers and non-jugglers alike to come together, celebrate and spread the joy of a wonderful, ancient skill. It is held on the closest saturday to June 17th – the date the International Jugglers’ Association was created in 1947.

So if you’re crazy about juggling, or you’re just looking for a great show, you can find events near you by visiting the International Jugglers’ Association website by clicking the Official Website link to the right.

Happy juggling! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-juggling-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/june20.html

June 19, 2015

Daily Holidays - June 19

National Martini Day Whether you enjoy your Martini shaken, not stirred, like James Bond, with an olive or as part of a more extravagant cocktail, Martini Day is a great excuse to celebrate with a glass. Strictly for adults, this special day celebrates all things Martini, and is an ideal opportunity to research and try out different cocktail recipes you might not have sampled before.

Martini has been enjoyed as an alcoholic gin and vermouth cocktail for many decades and is now one of the most famous cocktails in the world. It can be served in a variety of ways, such as with ice (on the rocks), garnished with an olive, or with a twist of lemon. Martini is served in bars around the world and is easy to make and enjoy at home. A great idea for celebrating Martini Day is to have a group of friends round to enjoy the drink. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/martini-day/

Garfield the Cat Day Garfield The Cat Day is celebrated annually on 19th June. The day is set aside to honour all things related to the ginger feline. Garfield was famously created by cartoonist Jim Davis and appeared in a cartoon strip on 19th June 1978. Garfield’s owner: Jon Arbuckle and his dog friend; Odie, also appear in the cartoon strip.

The world renowned comic strip featuring Garfield is set in Muncie, Indiana. Topical subjects focussed on are: obsessive eating, love for consuming lasagne and a distaste of Mondays. Davis took the human faculties, that we do not like discussing and anthropomorphised them in our ginger friend.

When celebrating Garfield the Cat day why not dress up as the cat himself? Organise a dress-up day at work where everybody has to come as a character from the well-known comic strip. You could donate money raised to a local charity and make it a real event! Alternatively, you could set up a local competition whereby youngsters test out their artistic skills by drawing a three frame cartoon strip based on Garfield. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/garfield-the-cat-day/

Juneteenth Juneteenth commemorates the abolishment of slavery in the United States. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/juneteenth/

World Sickle Cell Day Since 2008, World Sickle Cell Awareness Day has been held annually, in order to help increase public knowledge and raise awareness of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and the struggles sufferers and their families go through.

The date was chosen to commemorate the day on which a resolution was officially adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, recognising SCD as a public health concern.

SCD affects millions of people around the world, including both adults and children. It is a potentially fatal disease and, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is one of the main causes of premature death amongst children under the age of five in various African countries.

Some health groups dedicated to SCD treatment or support hold special educational celebrations. However, even if you cannot attend one, why not spend the day researching the illness, learning about the signs and symptoms and increasing your understanding of its global impact? https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-sickle-cell-awareness-day/

World Sauntering Day Take it easy; relax, go for a stroll and enjoy some valuable ‘me time’ on Sauntering Day – a day which encourages you to slow down and enjoy the world around you. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/sauntering-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/june19.html

June 18, 2015

'Supersize' chain is shrinking: The beginning of the end for McDonald's?

For the first time in 45 years – and possibly ever – McDonald's is shrinking. This year, the fast food chain will close more restaurants than it opens.

Approximately 700 underperforming locations worldwide will be closed, CEO Steve Easterbrook announced in April, and McDonald's revealed Thursday that only 300 new stores will be opened this year.

John Gordon, a restaurant industry analyst, told The Associated Press that the chain's great success in the past has led to “a natural overconfidence."

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/The-Bite/2015/0618/Supersize-chain-is-shrinking-The-beginning-of-the-end-for-McDonald-s?cmpid=FB

June 18, 2015

Mercy to lay off up to 350

Chesterfield-based Mercy Health says it is planning to lay off between 300 and 350 workers, starting next week.

The health-care system says the reductions will take place at Mercy facilities in four states, including Missouri, but officials did not specify the exact locations. The majority of the positions that are eliminated will be "leadership roles." Mercy has 40,000 total employees. About 2,500 are in leadership positions.

The company says issues related to the Affordable Care Act and the lack of Medicaid expansion in Missouri —and other states — are some of the key reasons for the layoffs.

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/mercy-lay-350

June 18, 2015

Los Angeles is ground zero for wage theft

On June 14, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed into law a bill that will raise the minimum wage from $9 an hour to $15 by 2020. L.A. joins the ranks of other cities such as Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago and Oakland, California, which have approved similar increases. That’s good news: According to a recent report released by the University of California at Berkeley’s Labor Center, more than 4.7 million men and women in California are low-wage workers — defined as someone who makes less than two-thirds of the state’s median hourly wage for full-time workers, which in 2014 was $13.63.

But the largest city in the country to guarantee a $15 per hour minimum wage is also ground zero for the corporate crime of wage theft, which can range from forcing hourly employees to work off the clock or manipulating time cards to denying legally mandated breaks or retaliating against workers for filing complaints. Each week $26.2 million is stolen from L.A.’s low-wage workers (PDF), according to an August 2014 report released by the health nonprofit Human Impact Partners, the UCLA Labor Center and the Los Angeles branch of the Restaurant Opportunities Center. That’s more than for any other city in the country.

The workers affected by wage theft are largely women and people of color. Research by the Restaurant Opportunities Center United has shown that the growing restaurant industry has a discriminatory system that limits black workers (PDF) to the lowest-paid jobs in the industry. For instance, in fine dining restaurants, they are more likely to be bussers than maître d’s. Additionally, among workers in positions that depend on tips, black women are particularly vulnerable (PDF) to low wages, with black female servers getting only 60 percent of what male servers make.

Women and people of color are overrepresented in low-wage occupations such as home care. More than half of home health aides and personal care aides work less than full time and are forced to rely on some form of public assistance. Black and Hispanic women working as nannies, housecleaners and elder caregivers in the private market are paid just as poorly, rarely receive overtime and are frequently required to take on tasks well beyond the scope of the work they were hired to perform.

http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/6/los-angeles-is-ground-zero-for-wage-theft.html?utm_content=opinion&utm_campaign=ajam&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=SocialFlow

June 18, 2015

St. Louis County libraries set to serve summer lunch to children

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO (KTVI) – It’s hard to read books when you’re hungry. That’s why some St. Louis County libraries are providing free lunches to children during the summer breaks.

Operation Food Search works tirelessly to fight hunger in more ways than one, fighting hunger with knowledge, empowerment and hope. That’s why Operations Food Search national anti- hunger leader Joel Berg paid a visit to St. Louis to stop by various meals sites.

Many St. Louis libraries have joined forces for the first offering free nutritious lunch along with activities for kids who may not have enough to eat during the summer months.

Tanya Harvey is excited about the program. This summer she says on a daily basis she will bring a group of children from the nearby neighborhood to Florissant Valley library with the goal to bring down the barrier of hunger to help children learn this summer.

http://fox2now.com/2015/06/17/st-louis-county-libraries-set-to-serve-summer-lunch-to-children/

June 18, 2015

Daily Holidays - June 18

International Picnic Day It’s often claimed that life is no picnic – but today it is! International Picnic Day is a chance to eat out in the open air with friends or family.

The word “picnic” comes from the French language, and it’s believed this type of informal outdoor meal became a popular pastime in France after the Revolution. As fans of Jane Austen’s novels will know, 19th-century picnics were elaborate social occasions, with menus featuring a wide range of cold meats and pies that took days to prepare.

International Picnic Day is celebrated in many countries, though its origins are uncertain. Charity events, school picnics and all kinds of other group meals are organised to mark the occasion. You could also bike, walk or hike to a nearby beauty spot, or just take your sandwiches and cold hard-boiled eggs into the garden and enjoy an al fresco lunch. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/international-picnic-day/

International Sushi Day All you have to do for International Sushi Day is to eat sushi! Popularised via Facebook in 2009, this is a recently created Day, and a testiment to the power of social networking websites to create and foster cultural movements

National Go Fishing Day Whether you’re a fluff chucking river man, a deep-sea deckhand, or a float fanatic in lakes and ponds, Go Fishing Day is the perfect excuse we’ve all been looking for to take a day off and get our lines wet. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/sushi-day/

With fishing as a recreational sport on the up in younger generations, there’s never been more locations to have a go at certain types of fishing. Try something new, or stick with what you’re already good at… either way, make sure you go fishing on June 18th. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/go-fishing-day/

National Splurge Day Are you tired of moderation, endless budgeting and taking the frugal option? If so then Splurge Day is definitely for you. Whilst for the rest of the year you may be a model of financial prudence, Splurge Day is an opportunity to let your hair down and spend, spend spend.

There are numerous ways to celebrate this occasion, so don’t let a lack of imagination hold you back. On Splurge Day why stop at one biscuit when there’s a whole packet waiting? Treat yourself to that luxury perfume or go to the best salon in town for a haircut with the wow factor. Even better, why not splurge on someone else? Take someone special out for a meal, pick up the bar tab or stop by the jewellers and purchase a suitably expensive gift for a friend. Splurge Day is a great occasion to treat yourself and others. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/splurge-day/


National Dump the Pump Day With rising fuel costs, congested roads and difficulty parking in urban areas, Dump The Pump Day is all about finding alternatives to getting in the car and try to avoid an over-reliance on oil and petrol for the day. Consider alternate methods of transport, public transport such as buses, or at the very least considering a carpool (which, though whilst not adhering strictly to the letter of the day, is at least a good gesture of faith)! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/dump-the-pump-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/june18.html

June 17, 2015

Looking at laws that might apply if Cards hacked Astros

In a statement released Wednesday, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak and team chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. strongly condemned the alleged hacking.

"These are serious allegations that don’t reflect who we are as an organization,” DeWitt said. "We are committed to getting to the bottom of this matter as soon as possible, and if anyone within our organization is determined to be involved in anything inappropriate, they will be held accountable."

As soon as the team became aware of the investigation several months ago, officials retained former U.S. attorney James G. Martin, with the law firm Dowd Bennett, to conduct an internal review and provide the information necessary to federal investigators. Martin said the review was not yet complete, and that he would not say anything more to avoid jeopardizing the ongoing federal investigation.

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/looking-laws-might-apply-if-cards-hacked-astros

June 17, 2015

Landfill Of Lettuce: Why Were These Greens Tossed Before Their Time?

Here's a scenario lots of us can relate to: tossing a bag of lettuce because it sat too long in the back of the fridge.

It doesn't take a long time for greens to turn to slime.

Bag by bag, this waste adds up. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the typical American family throws out about $1,600 worth of food each year. And what we consumers toss out is just the last step in a long chain of waste.

Food is lost on farms, during processing and trucking. Supermarkets toss out unsold food.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/06/16/414667913/landfill-of-lettuce-what-happens-to-salad-past-its-prime?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20150616