Old Stuff Day

March 2 is Old Stuff Day. Take some time on this made-up holiday to appreciate the beauty of all things old and vintage.

Or you can reflect on the same old, and sometimes boring, things that you do every day and take the opportunity to change things up.

Value

While people often see old things as something to be replaced by newer, shinier things, not all of them are useless. Wines, for example, are more valuable and tastier as they grow older.

Many old items like maps, books, jewelry, furniture, clothes, and artifacts also gain value as they age. This is because they represent workmanship and aesthetics of a previous historical era, as well as technology that may not exist in present times.

Much more valuable than old inanimate items is the wisdom and knowledge we can get from old people. From old family members, one can learn their family history, their genealogy, and their origins. Old people can provide us a richer and more colorful account of the past than any history book can.

Antique Or Vintage

Not all old things are created equal. Those who study history divide historical items into two groups based on their age. Antiques are items that are at least 100 years old, while vintage items usually have to be at least 30 years or more old.

FYI…

…that earliest known pieces of jewelry made by humans are thought to be about 100,000 years old? Found in a cave in Israel, the pieces were made from mollusk shells.

Quote

“Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.” —John Lennon

On This Day – February 25

• 1994 An Israeli doctor kills 30 unarmed Palestinians in the Mosque of Abraham

  The massacre by right-wing extremist Baruch Goldstein was widely condemned, also in Israel.

• 1991 The Warsaw Pact is disbanded

  Following the end of the Cold War, the defense treaty between 8 communist states had lost its purpose. It had been signed in 1955 as an antagonist of NATO.

• 1986 Corazon Aquino is sworn in as the 11th President of the Philippines

  Aquino’s presidency ended 20 years of dictatorship. She was the first female president in Asia.

• 1964 Muhammad Ali becomes world heavyweight champion

  Ali, who still used his original name Cassius Clay at the time, is considered one of the greatest heavyweight boxers in history.

• 1947 The state of Prussia is dissolved

  At its peak, the most important state of the German empire encompassed parts of modern-day Germany, Poland, and Russia.

  Trivia

• What color is the sand on Prince Edward Island?

  ▶ Red

Quote

“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” — Henry Ford

Battery Day

February 18 is Battery Day. It is a day to acknowledge the device that makes it possible for the smallest household items to the largest heavy-duty equipment to work smoothly.

The unofficial holiday of unknown origins is also known as National Battery Day

Converts Energy

A battery is a device that converts chemical energy to electrical energy. It is thought that the term battery to describe such a device was first used by Benjamin Franklin because the setting of the capacitator he saw reminded him of a battery of cannons.

FYI…

   According to some archeologists and historians, the earliest known battery in recorded human history can be traced back to as far as 2000 years ago? Known as the Baghdad Battery, the battery is a clay pot containing a metal tube and a metal rod. It is thought to have been discovered in the basement of the Baghdad Museum by German painter and archaeologist Wilhelm Konig, who suggested that the artifact was probably used as a battery.

Trivia

Quote

“Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” — Vince Lombardi

Make a Friend Day

    Make a Friend Day on February 11 is an unofficial holiday that encourages people to stop and take stock of their friend list and make new friends.

Humans are social animals and we need friends to feel fulfilled and happy. But sometimes in the daily rush of our lives not only do we tend to ignore our old friends, but we also forget to make new friends. Make a Friend Day inspires people to step out their comfort zone and try to meet new people and become friends with them.

More Tolerant

Making new friends can help people broaden their horizons and learn about different cultures and parts of the society. Research has shown that people with diverse group of friends are more tolerant, open to new ideas, and empathetic than people who have a small or a non-diverse group of friends.

FYI…

Studies have shown that on average people will remain long-term friends with 1 out of every 12 people they consider to be friends?

Trivia

Quote

“Kindness is one thing you can’t give away. It always comes back.” —George Skolsky

Stuffed Mushroom Day

    February 4 is Stuffed Mushroom Day. Also known as National Stuffed Mushroom Day, this made-up holiday clearly encourages people to make and consume lots and lots of stuffed mushrooms.

     A popular party dish, stuffed mushrooms are made by removing the stems and stuffing the resulting hollow space with meat and vegetable filling. Stuffed mushrooms are usually savory and are typically sprinkled with breadcrumbs and cheese and baked before being served.

  While mushrooms are botanically neither fruits or vegetables, in many parts of the world, they are considered safe for vegetarians to consume and are often considered to be a meat substitute.

What To Do

• Make a huge batch of stuffed mushrooms and have them for all your meals of the day. Start will egg and bacon stuffed mushrooms for breakfast, have sausage stuffed mushrooms for lunch, and end the day with sweet potato and parmesan stuffed mushrooms.
• Host a stuffed mushrooms party. Have your guests bring their favorite stuffed mushrooms to share.

FYI…

Person or an animal who eats mushrooms and fungi for nutrition is called a mycophagist?

Quote…

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” — Theodore Roosevelt

Trivia