Today Is... 📆

GregRedd · June 5, 2021, 6:31am

It is Saturday, 05 June 2021
(W22 | D156 | 209 rem)

Issues such as pollution, climate change, deforestation, and human overpopulation have drastically changed the way the world works. Because of the significance of these issues, the United Nations created World Environment Day to help educate people about the consequences of human activity.

On the 5th of June every year, the nature empaths around the globe celebrate World Environment Day, encourage awareness, and observe its protection.

Since 1974, World Environment Day has been celebrated, engaging governments, businesses, and citizens in an effort to address pressing environmental issues, with participation from over 143 countries annually.

World Environment Day came into existence in 1972 at the United Nations Assembly on the first day Stockholm Conference held on the human environment and later in 1974, the day started to be celebrated with the theme “Only One Earth”.

Over the years, the day became a global platform for raising awareness and taking action on urgent issues from marine pollution and global warming to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime.

The idea for rotating the center of these activities through selecting different host countries began in 1987.

This year, the theme of World Environment Day is “Reimagine. Recreate. Restore.”. The global host for the day in 2021 to highlight the importance of ecosystem restoration is Pakistan.

According to the WED website, every three seconds, the world loses enough forest to cover a football pitch, and over the last century, humans have destroyed half of the wetlands. As much as 50% of coral reefs have already been lost and up to 90% of coral reefs could be lost by 2050, even if global warming is limited to an increase of just 1.5° Celsius.

The theme means to prevent, halt and reverse this damage – to go from exploiting nature to healing it. This World Environment Day will kick off the global mission to revive these billions of hectares.

The theme focuses that healthy ecosystems can enhance people’s livelihoods, counteract climate change and stop the collapse of biodiversity.

Reimagine. Recreate. Restore. And do what you can to help keep the Earth a decent home for our children and their children too!

Know more:

murfle · June 5, 2021, 8:04am

I’m planning on doing some gardening today. I think it counts.

czc · June 5, 2021, 8:38am

In that case I just watered my chillies.

GregRedd · June 6, 2021, 6:43am

Good morning!

It is Sunday, 06 June 2021
(W22 | D157 | 208 rem)

Today is: Yo-Yo Day

World Yo-Yo Day falls on what is believed to have been Donald Duncan Sr.'s birthday (even the Duncan Company isn’t quite sure if June 6 is the right date). Donald Duncan Sr. was an entrepreneur who in 1930 got into the yo-yo business, and helped popularize the simple toy that continues to bring joy to people all around the world.

Yo-yos have been popular toys for over 2,000 years. Early forms of the toy were called different names, such as quizzes, bandalores or Jou-Jous. The earliest recorded account of the word yo-yo is from an 1860 Filipino dictionary. While yo-yos (and yo-yo-like toys) have been found across the globe, the yo-yo as we know it seems to have originated in the Philippines.

In 1923, Pedro Flores, a man of Filipino descent, began building yo-yos in America. He built the yo-yos by hand, and discovered that America’s youth were fascinated with them. In 1928, Flores built the first yo-yo factory, mass producing the toys in California. He also began to hold yo-yo competitions to promote the toys, which started the first round of yo-yo mania in the United States.

Donald F. Duncan Sr. first saw yo-yos in action around the time Flores began to hold competitions. He noticed how quickly the toys captured the interest of kids and decided to get into the business of making yo-yos. In 1930, Duncan bought out Flores, who was then hired to run Duncan’s promotional campaigns. More competitions and exhibitions followed, and the company did well in its first few years.

For the next 25 years, all of Duncan’s yo-yos were made of wood. In 1955, Duncan partnered with a company called Flambeau to produce plastic yo-yos. Two years later, Duncan retired and gave control of his company to his sons, Jack and Don Jr. Donald Duncan Sr. had seen the potential of a curious toy and turned it into a successful business. Because of his contributions to the popularity of the yo-yo, National Yo-Yo Day was later established on what is believed to be his birthday. Of course, the story of the yo-yo (and the Duncan company) doesn’t end here.

The company continued to promote yo-yos in innovative ways, including the purchase of advertising on television. The interest generated from advertising was both a boon and a curse for the company. Demand quickly exceeded factory capacity, so the Duncan company began to borrow money in order to meet customer expectations. Sadly, it borrowed more money than it could possibly pay back. In addition, the yo-yo craze of the early '60s waned after just a couple of years, and profits dropped dramatically.

The Duncan company had become synonymous with the word yo-yo, so much so that Duncan claimed a trademark on the term. Other companies challenged Duncan’s claim, and after a lengthy legal battle, the courts ruled that the word yo-yo was a generic term that any company could use. The money spent on litigation coupled with the decline in yo-yo profits and earlier company debts forced the Duncan company into bankruptcy.

In 1968, Flambeau purchased the Duncan name and continued to produce plastic yo-yos. The famous Duncan wooden yo-yos were discontinued and remained out of production for more than two decades. While the yo-yo fad had waned, sales remained steady, if modest. Yo-yo competitions and exhibitions were held sporadically, but weren’t nearly as popular as they had been in the past.

In 1985, the Duncan company began to advertise on cable television reaching national audiences. Five years later, a traveling historical exhibit featuring Duncan yo-yos and world champion yo-yo performer demonstrations helped ignite a new yo-yo craze in the United States. In 1996, the craze spread worldwide. It was fueled by exciting commercials, partnerships between the Duncan company, science programs in schools, and a wave of nostalgia as Duncan reintroduced the 1955 wooden yo-yo model.

Today, Duncan continues to produce yo-yos along with several competing companies. Some companies focus on traditional yo-yos, while others have created innovative models with clutch systems and ball bearings to improve performance. Yo-yo competitions and events are held across the world, and it seems every few years another wave of yo-yo mania sweeps the nation. It’s clear that this ancient toy will remain a popular choice for children across the world, despite its history of ups and downs.

I hope your Sunday has many more ups than downs. Play with a yo-yo and it should have at least one more up than down!

murfle · June 6, 2021, 7:05am

I was just reminiscing over my old yo-yo days in high school during the week.

Duncan yo-yos were always crap. Canada Games were the best

GregRedd · June 7, 2021, 4:18am

Good morning!

It is Monday, 07 June 2021
(W23 | D158 | 207 rem)

Today is: Chocolate Ice Cream Day

Here’s a sure fire way to ensure the Monday Blues are kept away today - eat more ice cream! Specifically, chocolate ice cream.

Vanilla is considered the most popular flavour of ice cream, but ever since the Italians froze hot chocolate in 1692, chocolate has been a close contender. The celebratory day itself was likely started by an ice cream manufacturer to encourage greater sales of the delightful dessert, but the question remains whether there was really any need to encourage people to eat more chocolate ice cream.

Chocolate ice cream is made by combining the cocoa powder with eggs, cream, vanilla, and sugar. The recipe is then frozen, and the more adventurous celebrant could consider making their own ice cream-based dessert in order to celebrate Chocolate Ice Cream Day, or simply open the freezer and grab any tub that is close to hand.

But what is it exactly about chocolate ice cream that we should be celebrating?

Whilst the good old chocolate flavour may have been pipped to the post by vanilla, it is not any less worthy of being celebrated with its own day every year and is still in the top 5 rated ice cream flavors!

A firm favorite in America and of course, the rest of the world, ice cream is not just for those who are going through a breakup. But, whilst we are discussing this – has anyone actually seen a dumped party consume their body weight in ice cream whilst sobbing hysterically in front of a TV in real life? No? We did not think so but that does not negate the essential food item that is chocolate ice cream. Or even just ice cream.

Ice Cream is a luxury – honest! Up until the late 1800s, ice cream was only for the rich and super-elite. This is due to the fact that they were the only ones who could afford to import it and then freeze it when it arrived. So next time you are looking for a more upmarket snack – look no further than the humble yet mighty tub of chocolate ice cream.

Just like a bar of chocolate, chocolate ice cream is highly versatile – add it to desserts, milkshakes, top it with an assortment of sweet and savory foods, or even combine it with other chocolate foodstuffs to make a delectable dessert that is sure to induce a food coma.

Ice Cream Sundaes. That is it. No elaboration needed. Did you know, Ice Cream Sundaes were actually made to be served on a Sunday? Ice cream was a popular addition to soda drinks in local soda shops. By law, on Sundays, this drink was not allowed to be sold. As a way around this, a popular ice cream parlor chose to serve the ice cream and syrup without the soda to get around laws about sugary treats on the Sabbath. So the story goes anyway. But either way, the treat is still a firm favorite all over the world.

Please enjoy ice cream responsibly. But if you can’t, the following advice is for those who need this: Brain freeze can be combated by placing your tongue on the top of your mouth. This will help warm the temperature sensors in the roof of your mouth which are the cause of brain freeze. A drop in temperatures sends a signal to your brain letting it know of heat loss. This is why you get the sudden pain halfway through enjoying your favorite frozen treats!

7 Totally Random Ice Cream Facts You Didn’t Know you Needed To Know:

Romans used to send slaves up the mountains to collect snow and flavor it with fruits. Kinda makes you grateful all you need to do is go to the store, doesn’t it?
Hawaii has an “ice cream bean” fruit that tastes like ice cream!
The world record for eating ice cream was broken in 2017. Miki Sudo managed to get through 16.5 pints of ice cream in 6 minutes!
In 2016, Americans ate 2.7 billion liters of ice cream.
Do you know how many licks it takes to consume a cone of ice cream? Researchers discovered the magic number is 50 licks. Try it when you have your next cone, see if it is true.
Chocolate is the most preferred ice cream topping. Chocolate sauce and chocolate ice cream. A match made in ice cream heaven!
The most popular day to consume ice cream is Sunday!

Even if your Monday weather is cold and cloudy, there should always be room for a scoop of chocolate ice cream in your life. Maybe even for breakfast? Go on, do it! You’ll thank me later.

DarthMol · June 7, 2021, 8:37am

Perfect weather for ice cream!

murfle · June 7, 2021, 9:08am

You mean perfect weather to make it outside?

aldyr · June 7, 2021, 9:25am

Mainstream eats ice cream when it’s hot. The proper snob eats it when it’s cold, because you aren’t racing the melting point. And norwegians eat it while dipping in an ice lake

murfle · June 7, 2021, 9:33am

I come from the Slurpee (slushy drink) capital of the world. Not ice cream, but it’s on a similar sentiment.

Yup, it can be -40 Celsius outside, and people STILL drink the things…

Beo · June 7, 2021, 10:10am

Is that like a Slush Puppy?

murfle · June 7, 2021, 11:35am

Same concept ya.

GregRedd · June 8, 2021, 6:49am

Good morning!

It is Tuesday, 08 June 2021
(W23 | D159 | 206 rem)

Today is: World Oceans Day

66% of the world is covered in a blanket of rich, vibrant blue, from its depths once came all life on the Earth, and it continues to house an immense amount of life. This blanket is the world’s oceans, and they serve as one of the most popular vacation spots in the world and play a vital role in the economy of countries worldwide.

Across the briny deep massive amounts of cargo cross each year, and it still serves as the primary thoroughfare for trade. World Oceans Day celebrates the ocean and the important role it plays in our lives.

In 2008, the UN gathered and uniformly created World Oceans Day. It was first proposed in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro during the Earth Summit. The ocean has been an incredibly important part of human history, and this special was established with the intent of celebrating our connection to the sea and raising awareness about the various dangers it faces. There are nearly 200,000 identified species that live in the ocean, but the number of actual species that reside there is likely in the millions. It’s essential to ensure that they don’t have to worry about freely getting around and enjoying a healthy and safe home to reside.

Even with that being the case, there are still problems with overfishing, and the subsidies that are given for fishing in countries all around the world are causing depletion of the game species. These activities have led to efforts to restore the fishing industry being undermined, and the industry bringing in $50 billion a year less. It’s just one of the many factors that should have us all celebrating World Oceans Day and raising awareness about all the issues our big blue’s face.

There’s a global environmental catastrophe due to decades of overuse and a surge in single-use plastics. Plastic straws and bags are getting into the oceans and causing havoc. World Oceans Day is an opportunity to acknowledge and recognize the efforts that have been and are being made against plastic pollution. It’s enlightening and disheartening to know that today, 13,000,000 tons of plastic leaks into the ocean every year, which among other damage, kill 100,000 marine animals annually.

It’s a good reminder to bring attention to the fact that oceans play a major role in everyday life all around the globe. The oceans provide a majority of the oxygen we breathe, so many consider them to be the lungs of our planet. The goal is to develop a worldwide movement of citizens to care better for the oceans. It’s an opportunity to inform and educate humans and the public of what our actions are doing to the ocean and what impact they have in the long run. It’s not only a day to celebrate the beauty, wealth, and promise of the ocean, but a chance to realize that they’re a critical part of the biosphere. They’re a significant source of food and medicines and simply can’t be ignored or mistreated any longer.

And if you’re thinking all of this World Ocean Day stuff sounds vaguely familiar, you’re probably remembering the more esoteric version - Mother Ocean Day - that we had last month. Have a top class Tuesday!

Know more:

https://worldoceanday.org/

Wyvern · June 8, 2021, 7:12am

I love these guys and have been following their journey since the start

Beo · June 8, 2021, 7:27am

Another one I like to follow

Beo · June 8, 2021, 7:33am

Think I’ve shared this before but no shame in sharing again, it really gives a sens of perspective:

https://zerowaste.app/

Wyvern · June 8, 2021, 7:58am

We are proud of the fact that we only have one small bag for recycling and one small bag of rubbish a week for a 3 person household.

We recycle what we can, use multi use plastics and we have a compost heap in the garden.

DarthMol · June 8, 2021, 11:41am

No joke, Razer doing it’s part in conserving the oceans.

murfle · June 8, 2021, 11:45am

That is awesome. Good on Razer.

Hopefully these things last longer than their mice though. Works amoungst the best of them until it doesn’t.

So who’s gonna clean up all the dead ClearBots? Wall-E?

Really though, I’m glad to see companies using their markup for something good.

GregRedd · June 9, 2021, 4:59am

Good morning!

It is Wednesday, 09 June 2021
(W23 | D160 | 205 rem)

Today is: Donald Duck Day

Donald Duck Day on June 9th each year commemorates the “birthday” of the iconic animated cartoon character. Donald Duck made his first screen debut on 9 June 1934, in The Wise Little Hen.

Donald Duck is one of the most iconic characters of the Disney franchise and has, for multiple generations, been one of the hallmarks of childhood and innocence. Also, of rage driven spite filled incoherent rambling while spraying the area around you like a sprinkler in high summer. There was something in his tendency to fly completely off the handle and rail at the slightest provocation that touched a part of us all. Everyone had times when they’ve just had enough, and Donald gave us the perfect way to respond. By raging incoherently while stamping our feet. It pays to lose your cool once in a while.

Donald Duck may spark a plethora of childhood memories too, the unique voice known as pseudobulbar dysarthria may resonate in your mind and take you back to the old age times where you were tried and tried to emulate that voice with your friends, perhaps you still do! He certainly does deserve to be celebrated and there is at least seventy years of joy that this duck has brought to the world, what is your first memory of Donald Duck?

Donald first appeared to us in a 1934 film called The Wise Little Hen, a retelling of the original little red hen story. Throughout Donald is repeatedly asked to help plant the corn, and harvest the corn, each time finding him claiming some form of ailment that prevents him from participating. If you’ve seen this episode or read The Little Red Hen. Unlike that parable, The Wise Little Hen took a more direct approach to showing her displeasure. She told Donald she’d cure him of his ailment so he could eat the corn… and gave him castor oil.

While that was his first appearance, the angry rage filled Donald we came to know and love didn’t really show up until Orphan’s Benefit, and it was also then that his relationship with Mickey was formed. Since then he has gone on to appear in video games, episodes of cartoons, and stands out as the Disney character who has appeared in the most films to date, outstripping even Disney Mascot Mickey Mouse. Apparently, there’s something about a rage-filled duck we just can’t get enough of.

Have a totally wacky (quacky?) Wednesday, my dudes!