Your December Birthday: December Holidays, Traditions and More

Most everyone's excited about the holiday season, whether it's Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas or (sometimes) Eid. If you're not into religious holidays, there's the remembrance of Pearl Harbor Day on the 7th (which brings the happier annual tradition of the Army-Navy football game), the super-party-time of New Year's Eve, and plenty of other interesting things going on:

Monthly Observances

It's no surprise that December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month, but rather less intuitively, it is also Choose a Summer Camp Month. Go figure. It is the National Month for drunk and drugged driving prevention, writing a business plan, and it is Universal Human Rights Month. In addition, it is Colorectal Cancer Education and Awareness Month, Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month, and also Spiritual Literacy Month, but I'm not sure what that means. Adding the roundhouse punch to November's Great American Smokeout jab, it is the month to celebrate TANYRSS, otherwise known as Take a New Year's Resolution to Stop Smoking. Ending on a rather unexpected note (unless you run a men's haberdashery business, in which case you probably knew), December is National Tie Month. Yes, ties have a National Month. I'll bet socks are next!


Weirdest Holiday

December 15th is Cat Herders Day. Yes, I know what you're thinking-these people don't exist! Well, apparently they do. I'm guessing they share a guildhall with the Jell-o Nailers. So, today's the day to go out and do the impossible!

December Traditions

Flower: narcissus - respect, modesty
Birthstone: zircon, turquoise- love and riches
Sagittarius's gem: amethyst - humility, sincerity

Zodiac sign: Sagittarius (1- 21) and Capricorn (22-31; see January for details). Sagittarius , the archer, is a fire sign, characterized by excitability and enthusiasm, like brightly burning flame. Sagittarians are typically very open and guileless, but these qualities are a double-edged sword, sometimes, as Sagittarians can be lacking in tact and sensitivity. Archers, try to think about where your little arrows are going to land, okay? Best friends: Aries and Leo. Best love matches: Gemini, Libra and Aquarius.


Famous Birthdays: Bette Midler (1st), Georges Seurat (2nd), Ozzy Osbourne (3rd), Marisa Tomei (4th), Walt Disney (5th), Randy Rhoads (6th), Harry Chapin (7th), Mary, Queen of Scots (8th), Kirk Douglas (9th), Emily Dickinson (10th), Mo'Nique (11th), Dionne Warwick (12th), Dick van Dyke (13th), Nostradamus (14th), Don Johnson (15th), Beethoven (16th), Pope Francis (17th), Ty Cobb (18th), Jake Gyllenhaal (19th), Jonah Hill (20th), Frank Zappa (21st), Diane Sawyer (22nd), Madam C.J. Walker (23rd), Ava Gardner (24th), Humphrey Bogart (25th), Steve Allen (26th), Marlene Dietrich (27th), Denzel Washington (28th), Mary Tyler Moore (29th), LeBron James (30th), Donna Summer (31st).

Catholic Feast Days

1- Feast of St Edmund Campion, St Eloy, the Blessed Sister Maria Clementine Anurite Nengapete
2 -Feast of Ste Bibiana
3- Feast of St Cassian of Tangier, St Francis Xavier
4 -Feast of Ste Barbara, St Maruthas
5 -Feast of St Sabas, Ste Crispina
6 -Feast of St Emilian, St Nicholas
7 -Feast of St Ambrose
8 -Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary
9- Feast of Ste Gorgonia, Ste Leocadia, St Budoc
10- Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, Ste Eulalia, St John Roberts
11- Feast of St Damasus, St Gentian, St Cury
12- Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Ste Jean Frances de Chantal
13- Feast of St Josse, Ste Lucy, Ste Odilia
14- Feast of St John of the Cross, St Spiridion, the Blessed Nimatullah Youssef Kassab
15- Feast of Ste Nino, St Valerian
16- Feast of Ste Adelaide
17- Feast of St Lazarus
18- Feast of the Virgin of the Lonely, St Flannan
19- Feast of St Adam
20- Feast of St Dominic of Silos
21- Feast of St Peter Canisius
22- Feast of the Blessed Gratian
23- Feast of St Dagobert II St John of Kanti, St Servulus of Rome, St Thorlac
24- Feast of St Levan, Sharbel Makhlouf, Our Lord's Ancestors
25- Feast of Ste Anastasia, Ste Eugenia, St Fulk, Christmas
26- Feast of St Stephen
27- Feast of St Fabiola, St John the Divine
28- Feast of the Holy Innocents (Childermass)
29- Feast of St Thomas a Becket, St Tropez
30- Feast of Our Lady of Lujan
31- Feast of St Sylvester, Ste Columba


Check out these other months!

January - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/01/your-january-birthday-january-holidays.html
February - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/02/your-february-birthday-february.html

March - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-march-birthday-march-holidays.html

April - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-april-birthday-april-holidays.html

May - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/05/your-may-birthday-may-holidays.html
June - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/05/your-june-birthday-holidays-traditions.html
July - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/07/your-july-birthday-july-holidays.html
August - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/07/your-august-birthday-august-holidays.html
September - https://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2019/08/your-september-birthday-september.html
October - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/09/your-october-birthday-october-holidays.html
November - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/10/your-november-birthday-november.html

Poinsettia image from Pixabay at https://pixabay.com/en/poinsettia-christmas-flower-557704/

Autumn Glory Festival in Oakland, Maryland

Every October, the town of Oakland in western Maryland (Garrett County) holds the Autumn Glory Festival, a four-day weekend full of fun events, such as the Oktoberfest block party, the Fireman's Parade, the Autumn Glory Parade, Battle of the Bands, craft exhibits, food and toy vendors, carriage rides and more! The whole downtown gets decorated: bright yellow mums are clustered in front of stores and other businesses, and cornstalks are lashed to the parking meters.

You can salute the local National Guard contingent in the Autumn Glory Parade, take in a folk dance performance on the old train depot stage, browse through the stores, watch the chainsaw artist carve sculptures at the Farmer's Market, tour the stained glass studio and craft fairs, or enjoy some sauerkraut, beer, and a good old-fashioned sing-along in the firehouse at Oktoberfest. Autumn Glory is a longstanding tradition in my family, many of whom live in the area, and we always have a good time, with plenty of food, fun and friends. If you are going to be in the Pennsylvania/West Virginia/Maryland area in early October, you should check out the Autumn Glory Festival in Oakland, Maryland!

Here's a link to the official site for dates and info for the 2016 festival: http://www.visitdeepcreek.com/49th-annual-autumn-glory-festival

For more reasons to celebrate October, visit: http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/09/your-october-birthday-october-holidays.html



Image from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/autumn-forest-woods-nature-fall-1072827/

Your October Birthday: October Holidays, Traditions and More

Yay, October is here! Sunny, crisp days and snuggly nights, bobbing for apples, hayrides and leaf-watching, and don't forget Halloween! What else is on tap for October? Read on...

Monthly Observances

October is commonly known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but it is also the national month for animal safety & protection, baking & decorating, caramel, chili, chiropractic, crime prevention, dental hygiene, depression education & awareness, disability employment awareness, domestic violence awareness, Down syndrome, ergonomics, family sexuality education, field trips, kitchens & baths, medical librarians, orthodontic health, physical therapy, popcorn poppin', pregnancy & infant loss awareness, reading groups, roller skating, RSV awareness, sarcasm awareness, seafood, spina bifida awareness, work & family and SIDS awareness, as well as the international month for strategic planning.

October is also Adopt a Shelter Dog Month and the official month for world blindness awareness, celiac sprue awareness, emotional intelligence, gay & lesbian history, global diversity, lupus awareness, clergy appreciation, Polish American heritage, positive attitudes, and workplace politics.
Finally, October is Raptor Month and, interestingly, Squirrel Awareness Month. Combining celebrations of these two without disastrous results may prove challenging, as raptors seem to be highly aware of squirrels, already.

Weirdest Holiday

October 12th is International Moment of Frustration Scream Day. You know what to do.

October Traditions

Flower: calendula (marigold) - sympathy
Birthstone: opal or pink tourmaline; Libra's gem: opal - reflects every mood

Zodiac sign: Libra (1-23) and Scorpio (24-31; see November for details). Libra is an air sign, indicating spontaneity and changeability. Libra is fittingly represented by the scales, because Libras are slightly obsessed by fairness and also are good at moderating disputes among others. Be careful that this doesn't lead to a need to control the situation, though! Best friends: Aquarius and Gemini. Best love matches: Leo, Sagittarius and Aries.

Famous Birthdays: Jimmy Carter (1st), Sting (2nd), Gwen Stefani (3rd), Charlton Heston (4th), Neil deGrasse Tyson (5th), Bruno Sammartino (6th), Yo-Yo Ma (7th), Jesse Jackson (8th), John Lennon (9th), Brett Favre (10th), Eleanor Roosevelt (11th), Luciano Pavarotti (12th), Margaret Thatcher (13th), Roger Moore (14th), Emeril Lagasse (15th), Oscar Wilde (16th), Ziggy Marley (17th), Chuck Berry (18th), John Lithgow (19th), Mickey Mantle (20th), Carrie Fisher (21st), Jeff Goldblum (22nd), Johnny Carson (23rd), BD Wong (24th), Pedro Martinez (25th), Hillary Clinton (26th), John Cleese (27th), Bill Gates (28th), Bela Lugosi (29th), Nia Long (30th), Dame Zaha Hadid (31st).

Catholic Feast Days

1- Feast of St Remi, Ste Therese of Lisieux
2 -Feast of the Guardian Angels, St Leger
3- Feast of St Gerard of Brogne, Sts Ewald the Dark and Ewald the Fair, St Thomas Cantalupe
4 -Feast of St Francis of Assisi, St Petronius
5 -Feast of St Placid, Ste Flora of Beaulieu
6 -Feast of St Bruno, Ste Faith of Agen
7 -Feast of Ste Justina, Sts Sergius & Bacchus, Ste Osyth
8 -Feast of St Demetrius, Ste Pelagia, Ste Reparata, Ste Thais, Ste Triduana
9- Feast of St Andronicus, St Denis, St Ghislain, St Louis Bertrand
10- Feast of St Francis Borgia, St Gereon, St Victor
11- Feast of St Alexander Sauli, St Gomer, St James Grissinger, the Maternity
12- Feast of St Edwin, St Wilfrid of York
13- Feast of St Colman, St Gerard of Aurillac
14- Feast of St Callistus, Ste Parasceva
15- Feast of St Andeol, Ste Teresa of Avila
16- Feast of St Gall, St Gerard Majella, Ste Hedwig, Ste Margaret Mary
17- Feast of St Richard Gwyn, St Ignatius of Antioch
18- Feast of St Luke, the 3 Stes Gwen of Wales
19- Feast of the Jesuit Martyrs, Ste Frideswide, St Philip Howard, St Rene Goupil
20- Feast of St Contardo Ferrini, St Wendelin
21- Feast of St Hilarion, St John of Bridlington, Ste Ursula
22- Feast of Stes Alodia & Nunilo, Ste Mary Salome, St Peter of Alca¡ntara
23- Feast of St John of Capistrano
24- Feast of St Anthony Claret
25- Feast of Sts Crispin & Crispinian, Ste Tabitha
26- Feast of St Bonaventure of Potenza, the Blessed Bonne d'Armagnac
27- Feast of St Frumentius
28- Feast of St Jude "Thaddeus", St Simon
29- Feast of St Baldius, St Narcissus
30- Feast of Ste Dorothy of Montau
31- Feast of St Quentin, St Wolfgang, St Alphonsus Rodriguez


Want to see more? Check out these other months: 

January - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/01/your-january-birthday-january-holidays.html
February - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/02/your-february-birthday-february.html

March - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-march-birthday-march-holidays.html

April - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-april-birthday-april-holidays.html

May - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/05/your-may-birthday-may-holidays.html

June - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/05/your-june-birthday-holidays-traditions.html
July - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/07/your-july-birthday-july-holidays.html
August - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/07/your-august-birthday-august-holidays.html
September - https://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2019/08/your-september-birthday-september.html
November - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/10/your-november-birthday-november.html
December - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/12/your-december-birthday-december.html

Image of calendula from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/calendula-flower-bloom-orange-933760/

Your August Birthday: August Holidays, Traditions and More

Poor ol' August doesn't have any national holidays or well-known religious holidays. It's too early to trick-or-treat and it's WAY too early to write to Santa. August doesn't even usually get a very interesting calendar picture! What's a summer baby to do for celebration around here? Well, there's more to August than meets the eye, and you will find most of it here!

Monthly Observances
August is National Win with Civility Month, as well as the National Month for immunization awareness, inventors, panini, and water quality, so after a long day slaving over your inventions, you can have a grilled sandwich and a glass of crystal-clear water and think about how nice it is to have all your immunizations. But don't gloat; be a good sport about it!

Weirdest Holiday: While I must admit some fascination for Southern Hemisphere Hoodie Hoo Day (22^nd), I fear I may not be allowed to participate by dint of my not being located on the proper half of the Earth. We Northern Hemisphere people will have to be content with Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor's Porch Night (8^th), which should offer plenty of opportunity for hijinks to ensue...

August Traditions
Flower: gladiolus - sincerity, strength of character
Birthstone: peridot -marital happiness Leo's gem: amber
Zodiac sign: Leo (1-23) and Virgo (24-31; see September for details). Leo, represented by the powerful lion, is a fire sign and displays the spontaneity and unpredictability of that element. Leos are not always as forceful as you'd think, but have a very secure sense of self and like to associate with people and possessions that make them look good. Leos love to joke around and be the life of the party, so it can be difficult to get them to be serious about things, and making any kind of commitment can be an immense challenge for them! Best friends: Sagittarius and Aries. Best love matches: Gemini, Libra and Aquarius.

Famous Birthdays: Francis Scott Key (1^st), Mary-Louise Parker (2nd), Tony Bennett (3^rd), Barack Obama (4th), Neil Armstrong (5^th), Andy Warhol (6^th), Charlize Theron (7th), Dustin Hoffman (8^th),  Whitney Houston (9th), Antonio Banderas (10th), Alex Haley (11^th), Mark Knopfler (12th), Alfred Hitchcock (13^th), Halle Berry (14th), Julia Child (15^th), Madonna (16th), Mae West (17^th), Robert Redford (18^th), John Stamos (19th), Amy Adams (20th), Count Basie (21^st), Ray Bradbury (22^nd), Kobe Bryant (23rd), Dave Chappelle (24th), Sean Connery (25^th), Mother Theresa (26th), Confucius (27^th), Goethe (28^th), Michael Jackson (29^th), Cameron Diaz (30th), Richard Gere (31^st).

Catholic Feast Days
1- St Peter's Chains, Lammas Day, St Alphonsus Mary de Ligouri, St Friard
2 -The Virgin of the Angels, Ste Sidwell
3- Ste Lydia
4 -St John Baptist Marie Vianney, St Sithney
5 -Sts Addai & Mari, Ste Afra, St Oswald
6 -The Transfiguration
7 -St Albert of Trapani, St Cajetan, St Dometius
8 -St Cyriacus the Slave, St Dominic, the Fourteen Holy Helpers, St Hormisdas, the Blessed Mary MacKillop, St Altman
9- Ste Edith Stein, St Emygdius
10- St Besse, St Lawrence
11- St Alexander "Carbonaris", Ste Clare, Ste Philomena
12- St Porcarius, St James Tam
13- St Cassian of Imola, Ste Concordia, St Hippolytus, Ste Radegund
14- St Maximilian Kolbe, St Werenfrid
15- The Assumption, St Arnulf of Soissons, St Tarsicius
16- St Armel, St Rock, St Stephen of Hungary
17- St Hyancith, St Mamas
18- St Agapitus, Ste Helena
19- Ste Joan DeLanoue, St Sebald
20- St Bernard of Clairvaux, St Amadour, St Philibert
21- St Bernard Tolomei, St Pius X
22- St Symphorian
23- Ste Rose of Lima
24- St Bartholomew, St Owen of Rouen
25- St Genesius, St Joseph Calasanctius, St Louis
26- Ste Teresa Jornet e Ibars, Ste Elizabeth aiz de Bichier des Anges, St Zephyrinus
27- Ste Margaret the Barefooted, Ste Monica, St Phanurius
28- St Augustine of Hippo, St Hermes, St Moses the Black
29- Ste Sabina, St Richard Herst
30- St John Roche
31- Aidan of Lindisfarne, St Raymond Nonnatus

Want to see more? Check out these other months:

January - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/01/your-january-birthday-january-holidays.html
February - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/02/your-february-birthday-february.html
March - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-march-birthday-march-holidays.html
April - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-april-birthday-april-holidays.html
May - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/05/your-may-birthday-may-holidays.html
June - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/05/your-june-birthday-holidays-traditions.html
July - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/07/your-july-birthday-july-holidays.html
September - https://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2019/08/your-september-birthday-september.html
October - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/09/your-october-birthday-october-holidays.html
November - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/10/your-november-birthday-november.html
December - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/12/your-december-birthday-december.html

Image of gladiolus from Pixabay  https://pixabay.com/en/gladiolus-flowers-white-yellow-965890/

Is it Okay to Pee in the Shower?

To pee or not to pee...in the shower? That is the question. Some people do and some people don't, but only very few admit it, and they are all men, with the exception of a soul-unburdening Liz Lemon, frightened of dying on a plane in the NBC sitcom 30 Rock. She's a fictional character, but was Tina Fey confessing, too? It had a ring of truth. But what is there to confess? What is wrong with peeing in the shower, exactly?

What harm does it do?
Is it unsanitary to pee in the shower? Well, urine is actually sterile; your skin will shed far more bacteria into the shower-simply from the stuff we contact casually every day-than your urine stream ever will. So no, it's not particularly unsanitary, even though it might not smell as delightful as your peony-scented body wash. It almost seems more sanitary, at least from the standpoint of cleansing oneself afterward. Why just wipe when you can lather up and scrub?
There is, however, the Squick Factor, a powerful deterrent. Whether or not you pee in your own shower, it seems undecorous to pee in your friend's shower. It is, after all, your friend's territory.

Okay, then, what good does it do?
Egyptian turkey vultures pee on their feet to wash off the bacteria. That's right; these birds, who feed on carcasses, are somewhat small (about wild-turkey-sized) and tend to walk around in their food, which is, after all, decomposing bodies. Their feet are feather-free so as to be more easily rinsed by the birds' urine. Some humans also swear by the anti-fungal properties of urine, as evidenced by the belief that to pee on one's feet helps ward off Athlete's Foot.

There is also the argument that one can save resources by peeing in the shower. Why flush that extra water down the toilet, and then climb into the shower? It is possible, however, that the minute or so it takes you to, uh, drain, you are too distracted to make much of the water cascading down upon you, thereby making the water savings negligible and saving only toilet paper. Which is something, I guess.

So, Pee or No Pee?
Your personal decision. The Squick Factor is purely psychological but hard to overcome. I would suggest whatever you decide, Don't Ask, Don't Tell may be the best policy. Happy Washing!

Image from Pixabay  https://pixabay.com/en/shower-shower-head-water-1502736/

The Statue of Liberty

I thought I would take this Independence Day to talk a little bit about the Statue of Liberty, who raises her torch over New York's harbor, welcoming tourists to come to Liberty Island. The 126-year-old statue weathered 2012's monster Hurricane Sandy successfully, but Liberty Island suffered serious damage from the storm and required some time to repair docks and pavement that were destroyed by the hurricane. But on July 4, 2013, after eight long months, the ferry started delivering visitors once more, just in time for our nation's birthday that year. The statue has been closed before, notably after 9/11 and also for renovations, so the public was happy to get another chance to come see Lady Liberty up close and even to venture inside.

The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the American people from the nation of France in celebration of our centennial, and after being assembled in France, shipped and installed on the island, it was presented to the public in an unveiling ceremony on October 28, 1886. The lady has been a symbol of welcome, as she stands in the harbor to which many foreign vessels traveled, and also because she overlooks Ellis Island, for many years the location at which immigrants from Europe entered the country. Emma Lazarus created the iconic poem that is displayed on a plaque at the base of the statue, containing the well-known lines "Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free", another message that the United States of America was willing to serve as a refuge for immigrants fleeing persecution or poverty in their countries of origin and hoping to start a new, better life in this land.


So a gift from France becomes a gift to all; to those who follow the promise of a better life for themselves and their families, and also for those who have achieved that better life, to visit the historical icon that symbolizes hope and freedom for all.

Image from Wikimedia Commons, public domain. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Liberty#/media/File:Statue-de-la-liberte-new-york.jpg

A Beginner's Guide to Sushi: How to Get Over Your Fear and Start Loving it Raw!

Even though sushi has been a staple of Japanese cuisine for centuries, it only really became familiar to Americans in the 1980s, when it became a trend of yuppies. Now, it is quite common in the States as well, although there are many people who have yet to try this traditional Japanese delicacy. Yes, it does indeed involve raw stuff, weird condiments, and seaweed, but you can actually learn to love it. Follow my steps below, and you sushi neophytes will find yourselves happily munching away in no time!

First, the basics: Sushi is different from sashimi. Sashimi is raw, sliced fish, normally served with rice as a side dish. With sushi, the rice is integrated, which certainly makes the raw fish easier to go down for the American palate, but also please note: Not all sushi is raw, and it is also not always even fish. Cucumber, scallion, avocado and even egg are all used quite commonly in sushi.

Sushi is typically served in four basic forms:

1) Nigiri , a thin slice of fish atop a palm-length oval of seasoned rice, sometimes held in place with a little "seat belt" made of nori, a dark-green seaweed with a very mild taste. Two slices of nigiri make a serving at a typical sushi bar.

2) Maki , or rolled sushi, consisting of fish or other ingredients rolled up inside a thin sheet of nori and seasoned rice. Maki can be rolled with the nori on the outside, or "inside-out", with the rice showing. Inside-out rolls are usually coated with sesame seeds or tiny roe, usually either red Tobiko (flying fish eggs) or orange Masago (smelt eggs). Maki rolls are several inches long, but are cut into six bite-sized pieces per serving.

3) Temaki is a hand-rolled sushi (as opposed to maki, which is made with a bamboo mat). Temaki sushi has a distinctive "ice cream cone" shape, with the nori filled with rice and other ingredients and rolled with one closed end and one open.

4) Chirashi sushi simply consists of a bowl of assorted slices of sushi served atop a bed of rice. This is a common way for restaurants to use up whatever they have too much of so that everything stays fresh, so you will really get some odds and ends if you order this, but it's a good way to get a variety of tastes at a cheaper price.

Sushi is traditionally served with three condiments: Soy sauce, with which I believe we are already familiar; the peach- or gold-colored slices of gari, or ginger (many people eat this directly, but the taste is extremely strong. I would recommend you stick a couple of pieces into your soy sauce and let its flavor infuse that way); and wasabi, that bright green dollop perched atop a plastic leaf on the edge of your plate. Wasabi is a type of horseradish, and it is fairly strong. As they say: A little dab'll do ya. You may also want to just stick a tad of this in your soy sauce to make a "dip". The Sushi Nazi will not approve of the dip (technically, you are supposed to keep the ginger out of it, too), but I have dined in Japan and also at the venerable Hatsuhana in New York, and I have yet to get bounced from a sushi restaurant for doing this. WARNING: Just because wasabi is served on the side, do not assume it is not already in your sushi (look for a little smear between the fish and rice).

How to eat sushi: with hashi (chopsticks), of course, but also it is okay to use your fingers, especially for temaki. There's no excuse for using a fork, which will just cause everything to fall apart anyway. Fortunately the Japanese use chopsticks that are fairly short and also not slick, so there's a good grip. Practice with your chopsticks a little before the food comes, and remember: only the top chopstick is supposed to move; the bottom one stays stable in your hand.

Technically, you are not supposed to dip your sushi into the soy sauce rice-first, but flipping your sushi to get only the fish into the soy sauce is a good way to send it flopping onto the table, so do what is comfortable. Frankly, I like soy sauce, and rice soaks up more of it, so I'm an incorrigible rice-dipper.

To get used to the various kinds of sushi, I suggest you follow the steps below, which will let you build up slowly from the things that you will find more familiar to the things that might initially freak you out:

1. Start with sushi that is not raw--Ebi (cooked shrimp), California roll (crab stick and avocado), Tamago (an egg cake--slightly sweet, like egg custard), and Anago (grilled eel w/ bbq sauce). This will get you used to the rice-and-seaweed concepts.

2. Move on to sushi that is raw but doesn't taste like it--Sake (smoked salmon); or is served in small amounts--Teppa maki (tuna roll), Una-Q (eel and cucumber roll); or is cooked, but weird (octopus).

3. Step up to sushi that is raw but of a firm texture. Maguro (tuna), Hamachi (yellowtail), and Shiromi (whitefish) have delicate flavors; if you are up to tackling texture and taste, try also Saba (mackerel).

4. Graduate to stuff that tastes good but has sticky, slimy or squishy textures: Ika (squid), Mirugai (clam), Amaebi (sweet shrimp), Uni (sea urchin), Ikura (salmon roe), or Uzura (quail eggs). You may choose not to bother with this step. I tried this stuff and decided the taste didn't beat the texture.

5. Go for the weird stuff! Some restaurants serve Sawagani, tiny soft-shelled river crabs that you just munch up whole, legs and all.

So, there it is, your guide to sushi and how to sneak up on it. If you still think raw fish isn't your bag, remember, there's always Spam sushi, if you live in Hawaii. Cheers!

Image Credit » http://pixabay.com/en/sushi-sashimi-eat-restaurant-599721/ by nile

Your May Birthday - May Holidays, Traditions and More

May starts with a holiday, May Day, that is actually two completely different holidays with the same name, one being a rather giddy affair involving begarlanded youths dancing around a flower-strewn pole (which, let's face it, was obviously a pagan fertility rite), and the other is a Communist celebration of the worker that is more like Labor Day, except that it tends to feature rather militaristic parades instead of barbecues and family reunions. To each his own! Speaking of barbecues (and, why not, military parades), May has the ever-popular Memorial Day, the unofficial beginning of summer, as well as Mother's Day. Could there be any more reasons to celebrate in May? Heck, yeah!

Monthly Observances

May is National Allergy / Asthma Awareness Month, although I believe I became aware of my allergies a little earlier this year, thanks. It is also the National Month for Arthritis, Barbecue, Bikes, Eggs, Foster Care, Good Car-Keeping (so keep your National Egg Month celebrations far away, please), Hamburgers, Hepatitis Awareness, Meditation, Mental Health, Military Appreciation, Moving, Osteoporosis Prevention, Physical Fitness and Sports, Physiotherapy, Preservation, Salad, Salsa, Smiles, Stroke Awareness, Revising Your Work Schedule, and Vinegar (good timing, with the salad and all, I must say). It's also National Photo Month, so make sure you take pictures of those nicely-kept cars and your favorite hamburgers.

May is also International Audit Month (eek!), as well as the International Month for Business Image Improvement, Victorious Women (yay!) and Lyme Disease Awareness, so if you are being audited and you point out the weird, bullseye-shaped rash on your auditor's leg, she will be treated in time to become victorious over her Lyme Disease and will certainly give you a pass on the audit out of gratitude, thereby improving your business image. Snaps for Lyme Disease Awareness!

Weirdest Holiday: I couldn't decide between National Two Different Colored Shoes Day (3^rd) and Slugs Return from Capistrano Day (28^th), although I am at no loss to determine which one would be easier to observe.

May Traditions

Flower: lily of the valley - humility, sweetness
Birthstone: emerald - tranquility, luck in love
Taurus's gem: emerald

Zodiac sign: Taurus (1-21) and Gemini (22-31; see June for details). Taurus the Bull is an earth sign, as stable and immovable as the ground under your feet. Also immovable is the bull, who has a reputation for stubbornness. On the good side, that translates into stick-to-it-iveness, loyalty, and reliability, but Taureans may have a hard time adapting to change or seeing other points of view. Best friends: Virgo and Capricorn. Best love matches: Pisces, Scorpio and Cancer.

Famous Birthdays: Bing Crosby (2^nd), Audrey Hepburn (4^th), Karl Marx (5^th), Willie Mays (6^th), Billy Joel (9^th), Yogi Berra (11^th), Stevie Wonder (13^th), Liberace (16^th), Pope John Paul II (18^th), Cher (20^th), Bob Dylan (24^th), Miles Davis (25^th), Vincent Price (27^th), Gladys Knight (28^th), John F. Kennedy (29^th), Clint Eastwood (31^st).

Catholic Feast Days
1- St Brieuc, St Marculf, St Peregrine Laziosi, St Sigismund of Burgundy
2 -St Athanasius of Alexandria, Sts Exsuperius & Zoe, Ste Mafalda, St Wiborada
3- Our Lady of Czestochowa, St James the Less, St Philip
4 -St Florian, Ste Pelegia of Tarsus
5 -St Aventine, Ste Judith, St Hilary of Arles
6 -Ste Ava, St John Before the Latin Gate
7 -St Domitian, St John of Beverly
8 -St Victor Maurus, St Wiro
9- St Tudy, St Pachomius
10- St Cathal, St Job, Ste Solangia
11- St Gengulf, St Claudian Mamertus
12- St Dominic of the Causeway, St Francis Patrizzi, St Pancras
13- Ste Imelda, St Servais, the Blessed Dame Juliana of Norwich, Ste Rolanda
14- St Boniface of Tarsus, St Matthias, the Blessed Giles of Portugal
15- Ste Dymphna, Ste Hallvard, St Isidore the Farmer
16- St Brendan, St Honoratus, St John Nepomucen, St Simon Stock, St Ubald
17- St Madern, St Paschal Baylon
18- St Eric, St Theodotus, St Venantius
19- St Celestine V, St Dunstan, Ste Pudentiana, St Yves
20- St Bernardino of Siena, St Ethelbert
21- St Constantine the Great, St Eugene de Mazenod, St Godric
22- Ste Juliana of Corsica, Ste Rita of Cascia
23- St Didier, St William of Rochester
24- Our Lady, Help of Christians; Ste Sara; Ste Joanna
25- St Bede, St Urban I St Gregory VII, St Zenobius
26- Ste Mariana de Paredes y Flores, Ste Mary Magdalen dei Pazzi, St Philip Neri
27- St Augustine of Canterbury, the Blessed Bartholomea Bagnesi
28- St Bernard of Montjoux, St Germanus
29- Ste Bona
30- St Ferdinand III, Ste Joan of Arc, St Walstan
31-Our Lady of High Grace, Ste Petronilla

The fun isn't confined to May! Check out these other months:

January - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/01/your-january-birthday-january-holidays.html
February - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/02/your-february-birthday-february.html 
March - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-march-birthday-march-holidays.html
April -  http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-april-birthday-april-holidays.html
June - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/05/your-june-birthday-holidays-traditions.html
July - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/07/your-july-birthday-july-holidays.html
August -  http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/07/your-august-birthday-august-holidays.html
September - https://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2019/08/your-september-birthday-september.html
October - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/09/your-october-birthday-october-holidays.html
November - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/10/your-november-birthday-november.html
December - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/12/your-december-birthday-december.html

Image from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/apple-blossom-blossom-bloom-1125908/

Review of Almost Green: How I Saved 1/6th of a Billionth of the Planet by James Glave

Yesterday was Earth Day, and in keeping with the green spirit, I am offering another environmentally-minded post, a review of Almost Green: How I Saved 1/6th of a Billionth of the Planet, a very funny book written by James Glave, a man who really, really tried to save the planet, or at least himself.

In this book, the author relates the story of his and his wife's attempts to make their lives more eco-friendly, culminating in the building of the "Eco-Shed", his carbon-neutral writing studio. All the usual hijinks ensue when attempting to build from scratch--flaky architect, bureaucratic mazes, budget nightmares--along with plenty of new problems brought in by the scarcity of green materials and building methods on the author's small Canadian island community outside of Vancouver.

Despite the challenges marching steadily against him, Glave meets every one with moxie, even if he has to dredge it up from the depths of his weary, green soul. The book's cover illustration does an effectively cute job of conveying the cartoonish façade of cheerfulness and go-get-'em attitude Glave had to perfect to preserve his sanity throughout the mayhem, and the book itself is written with much wit and charm. I enjoyed it greatly, chuckling almost constantly and occasionally howling with laughter. Not only that, I learned loads of stuff about green construction and conservation methods without ever feeling like that's what I was there to do.


What makes this book particularly appealing is how well the typical reader can relate to Glave. He's not a green god; he's just like us, torn between wanting to do good for the planet and wanting a comfortable life, and worrying if those two things are perhaps mutually exclusive. After all, wouldn't everyone live the green life if we could just remember to recycle, had the time to hand-water the lawn, knew how to compost, could afford to shop organic and were in good enough shape to ride our bikes to work? Read this book, and besides getting a good laugh, you may even get some ideas about how to green up your little corner of the world!

Liked this review? Here's another: http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/04/review-of-kaiser-chiefs-cd-yours-truly.html

Image from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/val-di-fassa-mountain-dolomites-1331004/

Earth Day Resolutions: A New Tradition that Helps Everyone

Many people make New Year's resolutions. Every year, January 1st brings a desire to begin again, to wipe the slate clean; to improve our lives. Maybe this is brought on by embarrassment over our indulgences of the holiday season, or maybe it's simply because the first day of the new year seems like the right day for the first day of the new you. Very frequently, we start out with a list of promises (we'll eat healthier, drink less, exercise more, watch our language) that fizzle out after a few weeks or months.

I humbly suggest we start a new tradition. Earth Day is April 22nd, right in the middle of the renewal of nature that is Spring. It feels like a good time to make a fresh start, just as flowers rise from the earth and buds unfurl on the trees, so what say we make some Earth Day Resolutions? There isn't yet a set way to celebrate Earth Day, even though there are usually cool, environmental programs like stream clean-ups and tree-plantings, and TV specials that give green information and conservation tips. But why not have a tradition in which everyone can participate, one that might help keep the environmental awareness going all year long?

Enter the Earth Day Resolutions. What ways can you change for the better, both for you and the planet? Here are some good ones:

Resolve to eat less (or no) beef . Beef is a notorious resource-sucker; the energy needed to raise, house, feed, slaughter and process beef is many times greater than the energy to raise, harvest and process any plant-based foods, and hundreds of times greater than the energy that your body can get from it as food.

Resolve to buy more organic and/or locally-grown food . Maybe you can fit a once-a-month trip to the local farmer's market into your schedule; if not, try to buy at least one organic product every time you go to the grocery store. Just one! I'll bet you can keep that resolution all year. If you don't see a decent choice of organics, ask the manager if they can carry some. When I did this at my local grocery, the manager told me nobody had asked before, so ask if you want it; otherwise, they'll never know.

Resolve to save water , but don't make your resolution that general. Resolve to take specific steps or make new habits, such as always making sure the dishwasher or clothes washer is full before running, or never letting the water run while you brush your teeth.

Resolve to recycle . Use you city's, work's or school's recycling program. If there isn't one, read this post for help with that: http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/02/how-to-recycle-if-you-dont-have.html

Think about the packaging when you buy groceries and other goods-is it recyclable? Is there too much packaging? You can save money shopping in bulk, and you can also cut down on the amount of packaging you have to deal with, as well!

Resolve to reuse . Shop thrift stores, yard sales, or make a toy-, book-, or clothing-swap with your friends or community group. There are so many things around your house that you have lost interest in that might prove useful to someone else, and that's likely to be true for every person you know. Get together and have a swapping party, or check out www.freecycle.org to see what people are giving away in your city!

So, let's celebrate Earth Day all year long with resolutions that keep the day going. You might make one big resolution, or several smaller ones. You might make one you are afraid you can't keep for an entire year, but you want to see how long you can take it. It's all valid, as long as you make a serious effort at it, because every time we are mindful of what we do, we can make a conscious choice to improve our lives and our world!

NASA image from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/nasa-map-day-ocean-earth-ice-140636/

Review of the Kaiser Chiefs' CD Yours Truly, Angry Mob

The Kaiser Chiefs first came to my attention some years ago when I saw their video for "Ruby", the lead single from their CD, Yours Truly, Angry Mob (Universal/Motown, 2007), on VH1. The video was delightfully clever and the song was one of the rare few that I loved on the very first hearing. I'd felt the same affinity for the Killers' first single, "Somebody Told Me", and I waited for the Kaiser Chiefs to blow up in a similar way.

I'm still waiting.

"Ruby" and the album it came from both went to 1 in the U.K. but caused barely a ripple stateside; Yours Truly, Angry Mob peaked at 45 on the Billboard Hot 200 Albums chart. So here I am, trying to start a rekindling of interest in the band with my itty bitty review. Who knows, it might start a whole grass-roots thing.

Since the band hasn't gotten the exposure they deserve, it's likely you haven't heard any of their stuff. Obviously, the internet can clear that problem up; I'm sure the clever video for "Ruby" is on YouTube, and you should be able to add this CD to your playlist on websites like Jango.com, Pandora, and YahooMusic.com, which is what I did to get more of a taste while I contemplated buying the CD (quite happy I did, thanks). Before you do any of that, though, you might just finish reading this review, so I'll try to do what a large number of music reviews fail to do: use the written word to effectively convey what the music sounds like.

Okay, first I'd categorize the style as British Alternative Rock. That tells you it's like Alt-Rock but the guys sing with an accent and use cool limey terms like "rubbish". The music ranges from the sheer exuberance of "Ruby" to the more contemplative "Love's Not a Competition (But I'm Winning)", and dips into a raucous, working-class sensibility on "Highroyds" and the title track. Besides the insanely catchy music (try listening to "Ruby" even once without singing along, possibly at the top of your lungs, to the anthemic and quickly-learned chorus), the lyrics are quite clever, as well. Here's a little social commentary on the crowd mentality from "Yours Truly, Angry Mob":

We are the angry mob
We read the papers every day
We like who we like, we hate who we hate
But we're also easily swayed


Okay, now back to the sound: Remember the music of the 80s that was not either Prince, the Dead Kennedys or composed almost entirely of synthesizer tracks? I'll give you a clue: The Alarm, The Church, Big Country. It was still rock music, with loud, happy guitars and singable, if not danceable, melodies. This is like that. As a matter of fact, the 'outer space' vibe underlying "Love's Not a Competition" owes much to the Church's "Under the Milky Way".

Those of you who are a bit young to have the 80s as a cultural touchstone can use as a comparison modern bands like The Bravery and, yes, the Killers, or possibly Maroon 5 in their less poppy moments. If you like any of these bands, you'll like The Kaiser Chiefs. So, don't let the UK keep this band all to themselves; Yours Truly, Angry Mob might become one of your favorite CDs. Now, don't you feel smart and European?

Image from Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Kaiser_Chiefs#/media/File:Kaiser_Chiefs.jpg

Your April Birthday: April Holidays, Traditions and More

April starts right off with a holiday, April Fool's Day, so stay on your toes lest you be taken in by a prank. Easter and Passover frequently, but not always, occur in April as well, and Earth Day occurs on the 22nd. Although it isn't the official start of Spring, it's often when the weather stops blustering long enough to feel springlike, although Robert Frost said "April is the cruelest month" for its extremely changeable weather. But even though "April showers bring May flowers", there are plenty of interesting things to know about the month of April besides the fact that it's rainy!

Monthly Observances
April is National Card and Letter Writing Month, so make sure to keep in touch with your loved ones via snail mail (this is the time to use up all those free notecards the charities having been sending you!) Wouldn't you love to get something in your mailbox besides bills and junk? So would your friends and relatives!

April is also the National Month for decorating; DNA, genomics, and stem-cell education and awareness; gardening; humor; kites; landscape architecture; occupational therapy (I've had jobs that made me want to see a shrink, too); Parkinson's awareness; pecans; poetry; sexually transmitted diseases and sexual assault awareness. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, Youth Sports Safety Month, and it is also National Knuckles Down Month, although I do not know what that is (sounds kind of painful).

April is also the International Month for Caesarean awareness, customer loyalty, and pet first aid. Also the International Twit Award is presented in April. I know all of you have some strong contenders in mind...

Weirdest Holiday: International "Louie Louie" Day, on the 11^th, because it's not just Americans who can appreciate a badly-enunciated song with a seven-word chorus you can sing whilst incredibly drunk.

April Traditions
Flower: sweet pea - blissful pleasure
Birthstone: diamond - innocence, success, faith Aries's gem: diamond

Zodiac sign: Aries (1-20) and Taurus (21-30; see April for details). Aries the Ram is known as the baby of the zodiac, being the first sign and representing the first several years of life. As a result of this, Aries fire-sign characteristics of excitability, adventurousness and experimentation are multiplied, as children share these same characteristics. Aries people are loads of fun to be with, but can be, as you may expect, immature and careless. Best friends: Leo and Sagittarius. Best love matches: Libra, Gemini and Aquarius.

Famous Birthdays: Debbie Reynolds (1st), Hans Christian Andersen (2^nd), Marlon Brando (3^rd), Robert Downey Jr. (4th), Gregory Peck (5^th), Harry Houdini (6^th), Billie Holiday (7^th), Patricia Arquette (8th), Hugh Hefner (9^th), Omar Sharif (10^th), Joss Stone (11th), Beverly Cleary (12th),  Thomas Jefferson (13^th), Pete Rose (14^th), Leonardo da Vinci (15^th), Martin Lawrence (16th), Victoria Beckham (17th), David Tennant (18th), Dudley Moore (19^th), George Takei (20th), Queen Elizabeth II (21^st), Jack Nicholson (22nd), Roy Orbison (23^rd), Kelly Clarkson (24th), Al Pacino (25^th), Carol Burnette (26^th), Coretta Scott King (27th), Jessica Alba (28th), Duke Ellington (29^th), Kirsten Dunst (30th).

Catholic Feast Days
1-Feast of St Hugh of Grenoble
2 - Feast of St Francis of Paola, Ste Mary of Egypt, St Urban of Langres
3- Feast of Ste Irene, St Richard of Chichester
4 - Feast of St Benedict the Black, St Isidore of Seville
5 - Feast of St Vincent Ferrer, St Derfel Gadarn
6 - Feast of St Notker Balbulbus
7 - Feast of St Herman Joseph, St John Baptist de la Salle
8 - Feast of St Walter of Pontoise
9- Feast of Ste Casilda, Ste Mary Cleophas, St Waldetrudis
10- Feast of St Macarius of Ghent, St Ezekiel, St Fulbert of Chartres, the Blessed Madelena of Canossa
11-Feast of Ste Gemma Galgani, Ste Godeberta, St Stanislaus
12-Feast of St Zeno
13-Feast of St Hermenegild, Ste Margaret of Castell, St Ursus
14-Feast of St Bénezet, the Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, the Blessed Lydwina, St Peter Gonzales
15-Feast of the Venerable Father Damien, Ste Hunna
16-Feast of St Benedict Labre, Ste Bernadette, St Drago, St Magnus of Orkney
17-Feast of St James Duckett
18-Feast of Ste Aya
19-Feast of St Expeditus, St Alphege, Ste Emma
20-Feast of St Peter Martyr, St Uriel the Archangel
21-Feast of St Beuno, St Conrad of Parzham, St Anselm
22-Feast of St Epidosius, St Theodore of Sykeon, Ste Opportunata
23-Feast of St Adalbert of Prague, St George
24-Feast of St William Firmatus, Stes Bova & Doda, St Ivo
25-Feast of St Mark
26-Feast of The Mother of Good Counsel, St Joseph the Hymnographer
27- Feast of Ste Zita, St Maughold
28- Feast of St Peter Mary Chanel, St Aphrodisius, Ste Theodora, St Didymus
29- Feast of Ste Catherine of Siena, St Hugh of Cluny
30- Feast of St Adjutor, St Wolfhard, Ste Hildegard, St Pius V

Check out the funky stuff in these other months:

January - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/01/your-january-birthday-january-holidays.html
February - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/02/your-february-birthday-february.html 
March - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-march-birthday-march-holidays.html
April -  http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-april-birthday-april-holidays.html
May -  http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/05/your-may-birthday-may-holidays.html
June - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/05/your-june-birthday-holidays-traditions.html
July - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/07/your-july-birthday-july-holidays.html
August -  http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/07/your-august-birthday-august-holidays.html
September - https://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2019/08/your-september-birthday-september.html
October - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/09/your-october-birthday-october-holidays.html
November - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/10/your-november-birthday-november.html
December - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/12/your-december-birthday-december.html

Image from Pixabay  https://pixabay.com/en/sweet-pea-wild-flower-sweet-pea-796916/
 

Your March Birthday: March Holidays, Traditions and More

In like a lion, out like a lamb: March's blustery winds subside into the gentle warmth of spring, and young men's thoughts turn to love and possibly to partying at Cabo on spring break.

Monthly Observances
March is National Craft Month, as well as the National Month for caffeine awareness, cheerleading safety, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome awareness, "Clean[ing] Up Your IRS Act", colorectal cancer awareness, ethics awareness, eye donors, frozen food, Multiple Sclerosis education and awareness, kidneys, nutrition, social work, umbrellas, and women's history. It is also National On-Hold Month, so celebrate by listening to some sappy music while doodling.

March is the International Month to Expect Success (remember to work while you're waiting), as well as the International Month for ideas, listening awareness (what?), and mirth (okay, got that covered).

Weirdest Holiday: What if Cats and Dogs Had Opposable Thumbs? Day, March 3^rd. Um, yeah, I have often wondered this myself. At least as often, I've wondered why we didn't have a special holiday for it. Now I'm wondering how you would celebrate such a holiday. Oh, and now I'm wondering if the holiday people have just lost their minds completely.

March Traditions
Flower: jonquil - domestic happiness, friendship
Birthstone: aquamarine, bloodstone - courage, wisdom
Pisces's gem: aquamarine

Zodiac sign:Pisces (1- 20) and Aries (21-31; see April for details). Of course, Pisces the fish is a water sign, with the characteristics of intuition and adaptability (think of water quickly taking the shape of its container). Pisceans are sensitive and devoted, but tend to be dreamers, so make sure your head isn't stuck in the clouds, little Fish! Best friends: Scorpio and Cancer. Best love matches: Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.

Famous Birthdays: Kesha (1st), John Irving (2^nd), Mikhail Gorbachev (3^rd), Khaled Hosseini (4th), Eva Mendes (5th), Michelangelo (6^th), Ivan Lendl (7^th), Aidan Quinn (8th), Juliette Binoche (9th), Prince Edward (10^th), Lawrence Welk (11th), Liza Minelli (12^th), Adam Clayton (13th), Albert Einstein (14^th), Eva Longoria (15th), Flavor Flav (16th), Nat King Cole (17th), John Updike (18^th), Bruce Willis (19^th), Ovid (20^th), Gary Oldman (21st), Reese Witherspoon (22nd), Akira Kurosawa (23rd), Harry Houdini (24th), Flannery O'Connor (25^th), Diana Ross (26^th), Mariah Carey (27th), Ldy Gaga (28th), Cy Young (29^th), Eric Clapton (30^th), Christopher Walken (31st).

Catholic Feast Days

1-Feast of St David, St Swithbert, St Albinus
2 - Feast of St Chad, St Charles the Good, St Ferona
3- Feast of Ste Arthelais, Ste Cunegund, St Guignole, Ste Katharine Drexel
4 - Feast of St Casimir of Poland, St Humbert, St Leonard
5 - Feast of St Phocas of Antioch, St Piran, St Gerasimus, St John Joseph of the Cross
6 - Feast of St Fridolin, Ste Colette
7 - Feast of St Drausius, Ste Perpetua, Ste Felicity, St Paul the Simple
8 - Feast of St John of God, St Philomen
9- Feast of Ste Catherine of Bologna, St Dominic Savio, Ste Frances of Rome
10- Feast of St Kessog, Ste Anastasia, St John Ogilvie
11-Feast of St Eulogius of Córdoba, St Oengus
12-Feast of Ste Fina, St Maximilian
13-Feast of St Ansovinus
14-Feast of Ste Matilda, St Lubin
15-Feast of St Clement Mary Hofbauer, St Longinus, Ste Louise de Marillac, Ste Matrona
16-Feast of St Heribert, St Papa
17-Feast of Ste Gertrude of Nivelles, St Joseph of Arimathea, St Patrick
18-Feast of St Fra Angelico, St Edward the Martyr, St Frigidian
19-Feast of St Joseph
20-Feast of St Cuthbert, St Martin of Braga
21-Feast of St Nicholas von Flue
22-Feast of St Avitus, St Isnardo of Chiampa, Ste Lea of Rome, St Nicholas Owen, St Paul of Narbonne
23-Feast of the Blessed Sybillina Biscossi, St Toribio, St Gwinear
24-Feast of Ste Catherine of Sweden, St Gabriel the Archangel
25-Feast of The Annunciation, St Dismas, Ste Margaret Clitherow
26-Feast of St Ludger
27-Feast of Ste Alkelda, St Pellegrino
28-Feast of St Gontran, St Tutilo
29-Feast of St Armogastes, St Rupert, St Cyril the Deacon
30-Feast of St Quirinus, St Dodo
31-Feast of Ste Balbina, St Guy of Pomposa, St Amos, St Benjamin

Check out  these other months:
January - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/01/your-january-birthday-january-holidays.html
February: http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/02/your-february-birthday-february.html
April - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-april-birthday-april-holidays.html
May - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/05/your-may-birthday-may-holidays.html
June - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/05/your-june-birthday-holidays-traditions.html
July - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/07/your-july-birthday-july-holidays.html
August -  http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/07/your-august-birthday-august-holidays.html
September - https://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2019/08/your-september-birthday-september.html
October - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/09/your-october-birthday-october-holidays.html
November - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/10/your-november-birthday-november.html
December - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/12/your-december-birthday-december.html

Image from Pixabay  https://pixabay.com/en/flowers-vase-daffodils-narcissus-93014/

How to Recycle If You Don't Have Curbside Pickup (Or Even If You Do)

There's really no excuse for not recycling if you have curbside pickup. My city has a great program that lets us throw cans, glass, paper, plastic, magazines, newspapers and cardboard all in one container, which we just put out beside our regular trashcan, and away it goes. But what if you don't have it that easy? After all, a program like that isn't cheap-what if your town is too small, or just unenlightened? What if there is a city program, but you live outside the city limits?

Some people might throw up their hands and say, "What can ya do," as they chuck bottles and cans in with the rest of the refuse. Well, those people are planet-killin' ignoramuses, and you don't want to be them. So what can you do? Tons, actually: read on.

If You Have a Private Service
If you are not living within the city limits, you probably have a private garbage service. Check with your company to see if they have a recycling pickup-maybe they do, and you just didn't know about it. Maybe they don't, but they were waiting to see whether people would ask. If they don't, ask why not. The answer is likely to be "It's too expensive." Point out that they should be able to defray some of the costs by selling some of the collected material, like aluminum and steel cans. Your average homeowner generally won't amass enough of this to view it as a potential revenue stream, but certainly a garbage service could!

Also, use the strength-in-numbers approach: if you can get a bunch of other folks in your neighborhood to call or to sign a group letter requesting the service and perhaps stating that you would be willing to pay a little extra for it (depending on the number of customers, just a few dollars a month should do it), then it's hard to imagine your provider not 'going for it'.

If You Have City Pickup, but They Don't Do Recycling
See above, but remember, you are dealing with bureaucracy. Unlike the private service, who operates under a simple profit motive and who wants to provide for their customers as long as they can make a reasonable living at it, government tends to be hidebound. You may have to make several polite inquiries and write letters to a few different folks to get any response at all, let alone see any movement. Elected folks are the best ones to tap for this, though: If the people at the municipal services department don't seem motivated by your requests, the men and women who want your vote might lend you an ear. Once again, the strength-in-numbers thing works particularly well, here, so mobilize your friends, neighbors, church group, book club, sewing circle, or whatever ya got. You can get it done!

And What if You...Have tried all that stuff, but it didn't work? Or you live in a really small town, or a rural area? Or there is a recycling service, but they only take a few kinds of things? I feel ya. Here's the thing: you can still recycle practically everything, service or no service! Here are some suggestions:

1. Aluminum: This is the easiest one, because it's worth some money. Many churches, businesses, and schools have aluminum recycling bins; just save up your cans and make a deposit when you're in the neighborhood. Or maybe you know someone like the Can Man--he was an underemployed fellow who made the rounds at an old workplace of mine, collecting the cans we would save from our lunches and breaks. He provided friendly pickup service, and we saved his having to scrounge through the trash, so it was a win-win!

2. Steel: This is also saleable, although it's harder to find places that take it. You might be able to find a local business-try restaurants and hotels, which go through lots of canned food-that has a bin. You can also try scrap metal dealers; steel is a staple for them.

3. Plastic shopping bags: The best way to deal with these suckers is not to need them in the first place-take a pretty, reusable tote bag shopping with you and use that, instead. If you find yourself awash in bags anyway, save 'em up and take 'em back; most grocery stores these days have recycling bins for the bags (don't be shy about stuffing all your bags in there, not just the ones from that store). If they don't, feel free to pester them into it; they want your business.

4. Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs: Ah, ubiquitous plastic. So convenient, yet so bad for the environment. Although many municipalities recycle plastic, it's usually just #1 (PETE, like soda bottles) and #2 (HDPE, like milk jugs), and since there are actually 7 different coded kinds, this one presents a challenge. For this, I will refer to the saying "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle". Make this your mantra with plastic (well, with everything)! Recycle what you can. For what you can't, try to reduce by cutting down on packaging: Buy products in minimal packaging, or in packaging you know you can recycle. Flip stuff over and check out the recycling code on the bottom-if it's non-recyclable, don't buy that product. Furthermore, call the company and voice your concerns; maybe they will change their packaging, making you Green Warrior Supreme! If you can't avoid non-recyclables completely, try to reuse what you can. Plastic margarine tubs are as reusable as Tupperware and cost you nothing extra (sorry, Tupperware).

5. Magazines: This is a fun one. Recycle magazines and make people happy at the same time by instituting a "swap box" at your workplace, school, church or wherever you can make it happen. My local library, for example, has a row of milk crates in the lobby where people can drop off their own finished magazines and pick up someone else's-all for free! Not only do you get to save the Earth, you get to save money. After you've read the ones you picked out, simply bring them back to be recycled again and again! Look for places to start swap boxes. Can you imagine how much easier it would be to wait in line if there were one at the DMV?

6. Office Paper: First of all, print two-sided whenever possible. For things that are already printed one side, you might be able to run them back through the printer to utilize the back (make sure it won't be confusing which is the relevant side, of course). Or you can do what I do: Cut or rip pages in half, then in half again, and you have a stack of scrap sheets the perfect size for jotting random notes. You'll never have to buy memo pads or even sticky notes, since you can easily attach your notepaper with (reusable!) paper clips. Documents that have to be shredded for security purposes can be used as packing material, fake snow, even mulch or compost!

7. Yard clippings, leaves, food scraps: Speaking of compost, here you go-it's amazing how much stuff can go into the compost bin or pile; if you do this, you will end up putting out a very light garbage can, indeed. Build a bin or buy one at the hardware store. Don't put meat, dairy, fish, fat, grease, oils (including peanut butter) or any diseased plants in, but feel free to chuck in egg shells, banana peels, orange rinds, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, and any other vegetable matter. Turn the pile as directed, and it will produce a lovely, rich compost that will enrich your soil beautifully.

8. Egg cartons: Cardboard or styrofoam, these can be reused to organize small items in a drawer. Line one with a pretty piece of scrap fabric and use as a jewelry organizer!

9. Glass: Glass is commonly taken by recycling programs, but if yours doesn't, check to see if local businesses-again, restaurants and hotels are a good bet-would be willing to let you use their bins. If you strike out here, the good news is that glass is extremely reusable. Glass jars are dishwasher-safe and can be reused to store food or any small items (my dad used to re-purpose our baby food jars to hold assorted nuts, screws, tacks and washers at his workbench. A chipped or cracked mug isn't safe to drink from any longer, but it might make a charming pencil-holder. Use empty wine bottles as candleholders, a row of decorative suncatchers or containers for homemade oils.

10. Cardboard boxes and packing material: Okay, maybe you aren't the eBay goddess, but you probably know one, so donate these materials to her. Even boxes that seem too small or flimsy for shipping can be used as spacers to pad items in larger containers. Turn boxes with printing inside out so you won't have to wrap everything in brown paper!

11. Used clothing, toys, books, furniture, tools, etc.: Start a "swap group" with like-minded friends, or find a local one on Facebook. Or have a yard sale, and then donate the leftovers to charity. You shouldn't have to throw anything out.

So, just use your imagination, and you will be amazed by all the ingenious ways you can avoid sending stuff to the landfill, and you may end up saving some money, too, which is a nice reward for being environmentally friendly, isn't it?

Image from Pixabay  https://pixabay.com/en/recycle-green-earth-environment-29227/

A Guide to Purchasing Amateur Boxing Gloves for the First-Time Buyer: What to Look for and Where to Look

Considering a purchase of amateur boxing gloves, but not sure what to look for or where to look? First things first: get to know the product. Amateur boxing gloves differ from those used by professional prizefighters. The amateur-style gloves are normally blue or red in color, with a white section covering the "scoring area" of the knuckles, to help ensure that the judges can clearly see the contact and accurately score the punch.

Typical weights for the amateur gloves are eight, twelve and sixteen ounces, and many amateur fighters will use the heavier gloves for training and wear the lighter gloves for actual bouts. Amateur gloves are available in hook-and-loop closure, or for those who prefer a more snug and customized fit, lace-up styles are also available. Look for gloves that have enough area in the knuckle region to accommodate hand wraps.


This is a specialized product that may not be available in your local sporting goods store, so the web is going to be your best help in purchasing amateur boxing gloves. Websites at which you are used to shopping, such as Amazon and eBay, carry the gloves, but you may also wish to consult specialty retailers like Ringside.com or Titleboxing.com, which may have more in-depth information and a larger selection. Amazon is good for product reviews, as well, so check those out before you buy.


Major brands for amateur boxing gloves are Rival, Title and Adidas. The Title website carries its own brand, but also several others. After you have decided on a brand, it can be handy to use a comparison-shopping site like Shopbot, Bizrate or Roboshopper to find the best deal. Don't forget to purchase associated equipment that you will need, such as mouth guards and hand wraps. Happy shopping!

Image credit: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-red-boxing-gloves-8991298/

Facts About Lead and Lead Poisoning

We've been hearing a lot lately about the lead levels in Flint, Michigan, so I thought it might be interesting to learn more about this very common metal and how it can be toxic to the human body.

The Basics about Lead

The chemical element commonly referred to as lead occupies position 82 on the Period Table of the Elements. With an atomic weight of 207.2, it is considered to be a "heavy metal", along with copper, zinc, iron and manganese, but unlike these minerals, which in small amounts are beneficial and actually required by the human body for good health, lead has no known benefits to the body and in fact can cause serious health complications and even fatality, thus it is classified a toxic metal, like mercury and plutonium.


Although lead exists in its native form, it is more commonly found in ore called galena, from which lead is produced via a roasting process. It commonly appears with silver, and is itself a shiny, bluish-white metal, although it tarnishes quickly to the familiar dull grey color upon exposure to air. Lead is a soft metal, extremely malleable and ductile, and its relatively low melting point of 600.65 degrees Kelvin makes it easy to smelt. It is a poor electrical conductor and strongly resistant to corrosion.

History of Lead Use

Lead is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, metals known to mankind. Its history of use goes back at least 7000 years, and it was mentioned in the book of Exodus It is thought to have been discovered and first mined in Anatolia around 6500 BC. It was used in ancient times to make statues, coins, utensils and writing tablets, and the ancient Romans used it in addition for plumbing pipes.

The Romans made much use of lead. Indeed, lead's symbol on the Periodic Table, Pb, stands for plumbum, the Latin name for lead. The Romans called lead plumbum nigirum ("black lead") to distinguish it from plumbum album ("white lead"), which we now call tin.


As can be surmised, the word "plumbing" is derived from the Latin plumbum, as the Romans widely employed lead for use in aqueducts and in indoor plumbing. Romans also made cookware, utensils, and eating and drinking vessels from lead. If there were not already enough opportunity for lead to be ingested on a regular basis, lead was also used to sweeten wine, so it was consumed directly, as well as indirectly from contact with leaden vessels.


Throughout the years this versatile metal has found its way into many different substances and products: lead salts were commonly used in paint, and indeed the Renaissance painter Caravaggio is believed to have died from lead poisoning. Lead has been a very popular component in paint; not just in fine art paints but also in everyday house paint. Lead in house paints was not banned as a toxic substance in the United States until the 1970s, and it is still used in paint in China, accounting for the flurry of recalled children's toys produced in China in recent years.


Lead is used to make items as far-ranging as sinker weights for fishing, typeset fonts for printing, radiation shielding, cable covering (due to its propensity to resist corrosion), ammunition, solder, and as a component of storage batteries, an ingredient in pottery glazes, and an anti-knock additive in gasoline.


But even though lead has been present in many everyday household items over the years, it has proven to be even more dangerous in the workplace. The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states, "Lead overexposure is one of the most common overexposures found in industry and is a leading cause of workplace illness." Such diverse industries as construction, pottery, the shipyard industry and general manufacturing have all been affected by issues of occupational lead poisoning.

 

The Dangers of Lead 

As counterintuitive as it may seem, given the way the ancients used the material willy-nilly and indeed that its use continues commonly to this day, there was some awareness even in ancient times that lead was a health hazard: the Greek botanist Nicander noted in the 2 ^nd century BC the colic and paralysis that affect people suffering from lead poisoning and in the 1 ^st century CE, Greek physician Dioscorides wrote that lead makes the mind "give way" . Vitruvius, the engineer of Julius Caesar, noted that water from earthenware pipes was more wholesome than that from lead. Disease from toxic metals even had a specific name in Latin, morbi mettalici ("disease from metal") . And this, from the people who invented "plumbing"! There were even early forms of regulation of this toxic substance-after it was determined by 17th-century German physician Eberhard Gockel that lead-contaminated wine had lead to an epidemic of colic, the Duke of Württemberg banned its use as an additive .


Despite all this early warning, lead use boomed during the Industrial Revolution and continued to be a problem not only in the workplace but also in the home, and even the air was dangerous, as leaded gas spewed particulate into the air. It was not until regulations were instituted on a very widespread level that acute lead poisoning became rare, although low-level exposure is still quite common.

Lead Poisoning 

Exposure to lead occurs when lead dust or fumes get into the human body. This can happen by inhalation or by ingestion through eating or drinking products that are contaminated by lead or even wild game from which the lead shot has not been thoroughly removed. Lead enters the body and is released to the blood and then distributed throughout the body. Almost the entire body burden of lead is accumulated in the bones. When lead enters the body it is mostly stored in bones, which is why it can be released into the blood long after the initial exposure. The toxicity of lead is well known and documented; lead effects all organs and body functions to different degrees, depending upon exposure level. There are many lead-induced health effects; the following are some of the major ones:


Peripheral neuropathy is a condition in which the nerves that connect the spinal cord and the body become damaged. This damage can prevent proper communication between the brain and the muscles, causing loss of sensation and pain. People suffering from this may also experience weakness, especially in the affected parts of the body.


Encephalopathy is disorder or disease of the brain that can be caused by toxins such as lead. The symptoms of this disorder are altered mental state, loss of cognitive functions (including the inability to concentrate), depression, and seizures.


Some of the gastrointestinal effects of lead poisoning are nausea and impaired digestion, which causes pain in the abdomen and feeling full earlier then expected. Along these lines, there is actually some evidence that lead was appreciated as a diet aid for young ladies in centuries past, as consumption left them pale, slender and langorous, as was the fashion. Early death was not a sought-after result but was not unexpected in those days.


Lead exposure can also cause miscarriages in women and reduced sperm count in males along with abnormal sperm, which can cause reproductive problems. Another disease caused by lead is anemia, which is a decrease in the number of red blood cells, leading to lack of oxygen in organs. This can cause shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, chest pain, and even heart attack.


The most significant source of lead is contaminated dust, which is created during flood clean up. It poses a great risk to children and pregnant woman. Hazardous lead dust is created when renovations are done by demolitions and cutting which disturbs lead based paint which is harmful to everybody especially children and expecting mothers. Lead based paint was used in more than 38 million homes until it was finally banned for residential use in 1978. Small children are most vulnerable to having leaning disabilities and reduced IQ because of lead exposure.

Lead Regulation and Exposure Prevention

Lead regulation falls under the aegis of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which maintains regional offices to implement federal environmental programs around the country, each with a Regional Administrator who has designated Regional Lead Coordinators to oversee the development of lead-poisoning prevention efforts within the Region.

Because regulations have been in place for some decades now, people rarely die of lead poisoning, but it is still common to see some level of exposure to the element, so it pays to take care to avoid exposure as much as possible. Stay alert for product recalls, be aware that older homes may contain lead paint and even plumbing (your regional office of the EPA may be able to advise you about the best way to abate these conditions), and try to ensure that you are not consuming food or drink from vessels containing lead paint or lead crystal. Lead may be a useful substance, but it doesn't pay to come in too close contact with it!

Sources:
"Heavy Metal (chemistry)" Wikipedia.org 17 October 2011

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metal_(chemistry)


Helemenstine, Anne Marie, PhD. "Lead Facts: Chemical and Physical Properties" About.com, 2001

http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/lead.htm


" Lead Poisoning". Wikipedia.org 26 October 2011

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_poisoning


" Lead." Chemicool Periodic Table. Chemicool.com. 24 Feb 2011. Web 10/28/2011

http://www.chemicool.com/elements/lead.html


" Lead". OSHA.gov. 30 May 2008

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/lead/index.html

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
http://www.epa.gov

Images:
https://pixabay.com/en/font-lead-set-book-printing-705667/
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https://pixabay.com/en/weight-kg-lead-weight-horizontal-340636/
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