Archive | January, 2013

Inspire Your Heart with Art Day

by on 31. Jan, 2013 in Unofficial Holidays

January 31 is Inspire Your Heart with Art Day!

Inspire Your Heart with Art Day is a celebration of creativity which focuses on the effect that art can have on one’s heart. To observe the occasion, go visit a museum or an art gallery, or make some art on your own.

If you’re going to celebrate by checking out some professional art, pay attention to the artist’s technique and ask yourself how each particular piece makes you feel. If you’d rather create your own art, get together with some friends in a judgment-free zone where everyone is comfortable expressing themselves creatively.

Check out some of our amazing art calendars!

Sources: Holiday Insights, Bendo13

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The Beatles’ Last Performance

by on 30. Jan, 2013 in History

On January 30, 1969, legendary rock and roll band, The Beatles, performed for the last time ever as a group.

The Beatles were filming a documentary titled Let It Be, which captured their exchanges with one another and their recording sessions in the Apple Studios building in London, England. During filming, the high tensions between band mates John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr were made apparent.

At one point, they decided that their creativity was being stifled inside of the studio. They decided to move all of their equipment up five stories to the roof of Apple Studios and give an impromptu concert to the Central London lunch hour crowd. They hadn’t performed together live since their last concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco in 1966, and this rooftop performance would be their last.

The songs they performed are as follows: “Get Back” (5 versions), “I Want You (She’s So Heavy),” “Don’t Let Me Down” (2 versions), “I’ve Got a Feeling,” “One After 909,” “Danny Boy,” “Dig a Pony” (2 versions), “God Save the Queen,” and “A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody.”

Upon being shut down by police, John Lennon addressed the crowd:

I’d like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves, and I hope we passed the audition.

Sources: Beatles Bible, Wikipedia

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National Puzzle Day

by on 29. Jan, 2013 in Unofficial Holidays

January 29 is National Puzzle Day!

Whether you enjoy brainteasers or a good old-fashioned jigsaw puzzle, this day is for you. Take a few minutes (or hours) today to complete a puzzle of any kind. If you like numbers, try Sudoku or Kakuro; if words are more your thing, take a stab at a jumble or wordsearch. Not enough of a challenge? You could always make your own crossword puzzle!

No matter how you choose to celebrate, try to share the joy of National Puzzle Day. You could give away a few Rubik’s Cubes to friends, or donate some great jigsaw puzzles to a children’s home or hospital.

Enjoy and happy solving!

Sources: Holiday Insights, Life123, Altius Directory

 

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Elijah Wood’s Birthday

by on 28. Jan, 2013 in Birthdays

Elijah Jordan Wood was born on January 28, 1981, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Warren and Debbie Wood. He was the second of three children and showed a talent for entertaining people from a very young age. Debbie Wood took her son to Los Angeles for the International Modeling and Talent Association annual convention in 1988, and he started booking small roles in television and movies soon after.

Wood’s big break was in the 1990 film Avalon as Michael Kaye. The role landed him a nomination for the Young Artist Awards’ Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film. Over the next few years, Wood booked several major roles in movies including The Good Son, Deep Impact, and The Faculty. In 2001, Wood was cast in the biggest role of his life to date, Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

 

Since The Lord of the Rings, Wood has appeared in movies such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Sin City, as well as lending his voice to Happy Feet and 9. He is reprising his role as Frodo Baggins for The Hobbit trilogy, and has several movies currently filming or in post-production. Wood seems to have joined a select few who successfully transitioned from cute child star to respected Hollywood actor and shows no signs of slowing down.

Happy birthday Elijah!

Sources: Wikipedia, IMDB

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National Peanut Brittle Day

by on 26. Jan, 2013 in Food Holidays

January 26 is National Peanut Brittle Day!

Peanut brittle was one of the first types of candy ever made. Although the exact origin is unknown, it is widely believed that the Irish would indulge in sugar coated peanuts for dessert. They later added a type of syrup to the mixture, thus making an early version of peanut brittle.

Celebrate National Peanut Brittle Day by heading over to your favorite confections store to pick some up, or learn how to make your own peanut brittle.

Sources: Punchbowl, Squidoo

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Alicia Keys’ Birthday

by on 25. Jan, 2013 in Birthdays

January 25 is Alicia Keys’ Birthday!

Singer-songwriter and R&B sensation Alicia Keys was born Alicia Augello Cook in New York, New York on January 25, 1981. At the age of seven, Alicia began playing piano, an instrument that her mother insisted she pursue. Upon her graduation from the Professional Performing Arts School, Alicia signed with producer Clive Davis at J Records.

In 2001, Keys released her debut album Songs in A Minor, which received rave reviews; the album went platinum five times over and earned her five Grammy Awards. The singer’s smooth mixture of pop, gospel, R&B, and soul has gained her worldwide recognition.

Supplementary to her music career, Keys has directed and acted in multiple films, including: Smokin’ Aces, The Nanny Diaries, and The Secret Life of Bees. In July 2010, Alicia married producer Swizz Beatz, and they welcomed their first child in October 2010. She recently released her 5th studio album, Girl on Fire, and will embark on a North American tour beginning in March.

Happy 32nd Birthday, Alicia!

Sources: Wikipedia, Biography.com

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National Beer Can Appreciation Day

by on 24. Jan, 2013 in Weird Holidays

January 24 is National Beer Can Appreciation Day!

Ecofriend.com

National Beer Can Appreciation Day celebrates the first day beer was ever sold in cans in 1935. On that day, The Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company canned and sold Krueger’s Finest Beer to the masses. Ever since then, we’ve been able to enjoy ice cold brews in portable and convenient cans.

Celebrate National Beer Can Appreciation Day by having a toast with your buds, making a recipe that involves beer cans as one of its ingredients, or recycling your beer cans in creative ways. Enjoy! 

Sources: Examiner, Greenmon.com

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National Handwriting Day

by on 23. Jan, 2013 in Weird Holidays

January 23 is National Handwriting Day!

In the digital age that we live in where almost everything is done electronically, National Handwriting Day asks us to go back to our roots and put pen to paper. The holiday was introduced by the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association in 1977 in an effort to encourage the use of pens and pencils.

January 23 is also the birth date of John Hancock, who is identified as the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. His flamboyant autograph is so famous, that John Hancock has become synonymous with the word ‘signature’.

Celebrate National Handwriting Day by practicing your own John Hancock or writing out a letter to a friend or family member. Emails and text messages can’t compare with the personal touch of a handwritten note!

Enter Pentel’s National Handwriting Day Contest.

Sources: Altius Directory

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LBJ Dies at 64

by on 22. Jan, 2013 in Deaths, History

Lyndon Baines Johnson (also known as LBJ) was the 36th President of the United States, serving from 1963-1969. He died of a heart attack at his ranch on January 22, 1973 at the age of 64.

LBJ was born in Stonewall, Texas on August 27, 1908. He began his political career as a representative of the state ofTexasand worked his way up to President of theUnited States. Johnson is one of only four politicians to have served in all four elected federal offices: US Representative, Senator, Vice President, and President.

In the 1960 election, John F. Kennedy selected LBJ as his running mate. When JFK was assassinated in 1963, Johnson assumed the position of President, finishing JFK’s term. He was then reelected as President in 1964.

LBJ is most known for his “Great Society” legislation that supported the civil rights movement, Medicare and Medicaid, environmental protection, and the War on Poverty. He also heightened the presence of American troops in Vietnam, which caused major anti-war protests across the nation.

Sources: Wikipedia, Biography.com

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Squirrel Appreciation Day

by on 21. Jan, 2013 in Weird Holidays

January 21 is also Squirrel Appreciation Day!

Wildlife rehabilitator Christy Hargrove introduced this day in 2001. Hargrove chose a day in the middle of winter because of the lack of food for squirrels around this time of year.

There are over 280 different types of squirrels, which vary in size, from the 5-inch African Pygmy squirrel to the 3-foot Indian Giant Squirrel. Since the winter months leave squirrels without much to forage, help a squirrel out today by putting out some extra food for them to nibble on. They of course love to eat nuts and assorted seeds as well as various fruits and vegetables.

Sources: Washington Post, Huffington Post

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