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Post by pennmom on Dec 9, 2021 19:26:21 GMT
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Techno Day – December 9, 2021~U.S.
Techno Day is celebrated annually on December 9. It is a holiday dedicated to celebrating techno, a music genre that is growing globally. The date of the day was intentionally chosen to coincide with the birthday of Juan Atkins, who is widely considered the originator of techno music along with Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson. Jointly they are known as the Belleville Three.
HISTORY OF TECHNO DAY Techno is a kind of electronic dance music (EDM) that originated in Detroit, Michigan in the late ’80s. The very first recorded utilization of the word ‘techno’ in reference to the particular genre of music was around the same time. It is now very popular around the world.
The exact origin of Techno Day is not exactly known. It began with people celebrating in small groups and it grew in popularity as news spread via the internet. Over the years since its origination, techno has developed and evolved to now boast variations that would not have been thought of at the time of it first being created.
Techno was considered a fusion of dance music with the avant-garde, futuristic sounds from the likes of German electro-pop group Kraftwerk. It is still regarded as intellectual and cerebral, with the sub-genre of ambient techno, which is designed to be enjoyed outside of the club environment, also known as intelligent dance music.
A number of different electronic instruments are used by techno artists. These include sequencers and synthesizers, drum machines, and digital audio workstations.
Today, many types of techno music exist, but Detroit techno continues to be viewed as the original building block for the genre.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 9, 2021 19:29:09 GMT
Christmas Card Day – December 9, 2021~International
Ho ho ho! And a merry Christmas Card Day, on December 9, to all! ’Tis the season for spreading cheer and joyful greetings, so why not grab a recent photo, a box of cards, or even a tastefully designed e-card and get to writing! Christmas cards have been around for centuries, so there’s no time like the present to send ’em out and keep your loved ones up to date on your life while you wish them good tidings.
HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS CARD DAY Annual Christmas cards have become a popular and time-honored (or maybe -mandated) tradition; a means of telling your friends and , however distant, “Happy holidays, we’re thinking of you, and look how great we’re doing!” They’re a way of doing a yearly catch-up, and check in on how much the children have grown and what big moves so-and-so has made. And while they seem commonplace now, that wasn’t always the case.
Sir Henry Cole, a member of the British civil service, created the modern concept of the Christmas card along with his artist friend, John Horsley, in 1843, as a means to encourage more people to use the new British postal system. Their first card was sold for one shilling or about 24 U.S. cents. By the 1860s, the practice of sending Christmas cards was more or less in full swing in Britain thanks to the rise and advent of the printing press.
Christmas cards inevitably reached the USA in the 1840s, close to when the first ones were being printed. However, the expenses involved in their production rendered them a stagnant practice until 1875 when German printer Louis Prang started mass-producing the cards, making them affordable. It wasn’t until the Hall brothers opened Hallmark, however, in the early 20th century that the practice really took off in the U.S.
Today, Christmas cards have become a major part of the holiday tradition. And whether you take a photo or create one out of construction paper, glue, and glitter, your Christmas cards are sure to make their recipients smile.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 9, 2021 19:30:52 GMT
National Llama Day – December 9, 2021~U.S.
Llamas aren’t just adorable, majestic creatures. They’re also a big help to people all over the world. National Llama Day is the perfect day to appreciate one of the fuzziest farm animals around. Did you know they’re also smart, social and produce very soft wool? Some live as long as 30 years! Whether you’re cuddling up with your favorite llama or sharing some fun llama facts with your friends and family, December 9 is your day to celebrate.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 9, 2021 19:32:41 GMT
International Day of Veterinary Medicine – December 9, 2021~International
International Day of Veterinary Medicine is celebrated on December 9 every year. It recognizes the important work done by organizations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) whose vision and mission is to promote a strong and unified veterinary sector that can protect animal as well as human health and welfare.
HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL DAY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE The practice of taking care of animals and preventing and curing diseases that ail them goes back all the way to the Neolithic period, which contains the first recorded evidence of a cow that had undergone trepanation, or trephination – a type of skull surgery involving the drilling of holes to treat injury or pain. ‘Horse doctoring’ was one of the first organized veterinary professions to emerge in the Arabic world in the 9th century because of the economic and military significance of horses. The horseshoe makers, or farriers, of London were even encouraged by the Lord Mayor to form a ‘fellowship’ in 1356 to improve their practice of tending to horses.
Professionalisation efforts in France received a boost after the outbreak of rinderpest among cattle, and the first veterinary school was established in 1762 by Claude Bourgelat, who is now a legend in the field. Other societies linked to agriculture and industry also played a vital role in establishing the profession of veterinary care due to the overlapping interests between the fields. Britain got its first veterinary school in 1790 while America had to wait almost a century more for the first public veterinary college offering a four-year degree in Iowa State University.
According to the latest figures published by the American Veterinary Medical Association, there are 133,394 veterinarians in the U.S. and 309,144 veterinary doctors in Europe. The profession is only growing in global significance with the rise of zoonotic diseases that spread from animals to humans.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 9, 2021 19:34:13 GMT
National Pastry Day – December 9, 2021~U.S.
We don’t know about you, but we’ve never met a pastry we didn’t like. That’s why we’re thrilled to celebrate National Pastry Day on December 9. Pastries date back to ancient times: the ancient Egyptians made pastry dough out of grain meal and flour and sweetened it with honey, and the ancient Greeks and Romans made sweets out of paper-thin pastry dough (the predecessor to what we now know as phyllo dough). Pastries traveled to Europe in medieval times, where they added fats like butter and shortening to make a sturdier dough. You’ll find pastries in pretty much every culture you can think of, but pastries became incredibly refined in French kitchens during the 18th century. There’s a reason we think of France as the pastry capital of the world. Today there are countless types of pastries out there, and we’ll take one of each, please.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 9, 2021 19:36:23 GMT
International Anti-Corruption Day – December 9, 2021~International
International Anti-Corruption Day is observed on December 9 every year. It serves as a reminder for each of us to actively speak out and fight against corruption in our lives and the lives of others. The United Nations has declared this day to bring attention to the need to adopt an anti-corruption stance.
HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY Corruption has existed from time immemorial. Some of the earliest records of anti-corruption texts can be found in the Code of Hammurabi of Babylonia, the Great Edict of Horemheb in Egypt, and Arthashastra in India. These texts spoke about bribery practices among officers of the state and law. The concept of public interest and welfare began to gain stronghold in Western society in the 19th century and more attention was paid to the rising corruption in professional services like the bureaucracy. Corruption was beginning to be understood not just as an unwanted practice but a practice that was levying a great cost in society.
Today, Transparency International is one of the most well-known organizational faces tackling corruption in countries all over the world. It was founded by Peter Eigen, a World Bank official who had witnessed the negative impact of corruption in East Africa and decided to start a non-profit to shed more light on the issue. The secretariat was set up in Berlin in 1993. It currently hosts the International Anti-Corruption Conference every two years to convene civil society, bureaucrats, nonprofits and political leaders around special, cross-cutting challenges posed by corruption. It held its first virtual conference in 2020, and it is available to watch online.
Transparency International also developed the Corruption Perception Index in 1995 to measure corruption across sectors and practices in various countries and rank them comparatively. The index now collects data from 180 countries. Other organizations like the World Bank also capture corruption data through their Worldwide Governance Indicators.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 10, 2021 11:41:54 GMT
National Lager Day – December 10, 2021~U.S.
This day may not be the only day we enjoy this light, crisp, blonde adult beverage, but it sure is the one day we celebrate National Lager Day on December 10. The drink of choice for many at sporting events, backyard barbecues, baby showers, and funerals, lager is the light hoppy drink that is popular throughout the world. No one really knows how this holiday came about, but one thing is for sure, America loves this beer.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 10, 2021 11:44:38 GMT
Nobel Prize Day – December 10, 2021~International
Nobel Prize Day falls on December 10 every year. It honors the achievements of Alfred Bernhard Nobel, a Swedish engineer, chemist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. We have all heard of the Nobel Prize that recognizes outstanding achievements in various fields in the arts and sciences. Nobel Prize Day is a tribute to the person who instituted the prize.
HISTORY OF NOBEL PRIZE DAY Alfred Nobel was born to impoverished parents in Stockholm, but his father was a descendant of a very highly regarded Swedish scientist and writer, Olaus, or Olof, Rudbeck. His father was an engineer himself and Alfred Nobel expressed early interest in engineering, and explosives in particular. This of course bore results, with Nobel becoming interested in stabilizing the unpredictable explosive, nitroglycerin, as early as his teenage years. Despite one of his brothers dying in a tragic accident involving this pursuit, Nobel continued with his work, shifting the factory base to a more isolated area, and ultimately succeeding in inventing dynamite as a superior and more stable version of nitroglycerin.
Alfred Nobel went on to invent an even better alternative to dynamite in the form of gelignite. This became a staple in mining operations and made Nobel financially successful. Nobel also invented weaponry for military purposes and started companies to sell these. When a French newspaper carried a false obituary of Nobel, criticizing him for his role in warfare, he re-evaluated his life’s goals and decided to use his earnings to set up a prize that recognized the best in humanity. The prizes in the different categories reflect his own interests in various fields. Apart from being an entrepreneurial engineer, he was also a writer.
While Nobel is still criticized for the role he played in furthering military technology, the Nobel Prizes, including the Prize for economics, which was added later, are considered the most prestigious achievement for practitioners in those fields.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 10, 2021 11:50:16 GMT
Dewey Decimal System Day – December 10, 2021~U.S.
Dewey Decimal System Day, December 10, honors Melvil Dewey and the library classification system he created to efficiently maintain our libraries’ inventory of books. With over 1 billion people visiting public libraries every year, it’s vital to have an easy-to-read system for us to find the exact location of the books we hope to read.
HISTORY OF DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM DAY Melvil Dewey, the creator of the famed Dewey Decimal System which classifies mostly non-fiction library books and resources, was born on December 10, 1851, in New York and this date has been adopted to celebrate and honor him annually for Dewey Decimal System Day.
Dewey created his proprietary system of library resource classification while working at the Amherst College library at the age of 21. The Dewey Decimal System was first published in 1876 and is now the most widely used system around the world in over 200,000 libraries in 135 countries. The 20th edition of the system had been published by the late 20th century.
The system allows us to locate resources by topic assigned to one of 10 classes. The 10 main groups are 000–099, general works; 100–199, philosophy and psychology; 200–299, religion; 300–399, social sciences; 400–499, language; 500–599, natural sciences and mathematics; 600–699, technology; 700–799, the arts; 800–899, literature and rhetoric; and 900–999, history, biography, and geography.
Each class is further categorized into 10 hierarchical divisions which are then subcategorized into 10 sections. The Dewey system’s numerical classification provides a shorthand identification and location tool. The notation lends itself to memory through the constant repetition of a standard pattern — area arrangement, different numbers for particular languages — through parallel subject developments and patterned repetition of standard subdivisions, such as theory, history, geography and so on.
It’s hard to believe it’s been over 100 years since the original introduction of the Dewey Decimal System. Today, Americans check out an average of 7 items from their local libraries every year so the need to maintain order continues. The digital age made the beautiful card catalog cabinets housing the index cards listing the decimal classification obsolete. Interestingly, Dewey also helped to create the index cards themselves. The same year he created the decimal system, Dewey founded the Library Bureau, a company selling index cards and filing cabinets. Dewey Decimal System Day, December 10, honors Melvil Dewey and the library classification system he created to efficiently maintain our libraries’ inventory of books. With over 1 billion people visiting public libraries every year, it’s vital to have an easy-to-read system for us to find the exact location of the books we hope to read.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 10, 2021 11:52:47 GMT
International Animal Rights Day – December 10, 2021~International
The rights of our furry friends are celebrated annually on International Animal Rights Day on December 10. The holiday is shared with Human Rights Day, as it should be, because animals have the right to be treated with respect, and acts of cruelty against them need to end just as much as for humans.
HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL ANIMAL RIGHTS DAY For hundreds of years, man has been killing and mistreating animals for personal gain. Whether it is in the exploitation of meat, or animal fur for the sake of fashion and art, the justification that it is done out of necessity has really been pushed.
In 1948, the UN passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, following the torture subjected to humans during World War II in concentration camps by Nazi Germany. After this, organizations, associations, and individuals from around the world started demanding that this declaration should be extended to the animal kingdom and that December 10 should also be a day for advocating the rights of animals. 22 years after the UN passed their historic declaration, the word “speciesism” was coined in 1970, to discuss and encourage dialogue on the discrimination against sentient beings based on their species. The whole idea that animals are inferior and live for the sole purpose of catering to the needs and wants of humans is an irrational prejudice against them. Just as certain segments of the human race are suffering due to sexism and racism, animals suffer just as much, if not more, because they can’t defend themselves.
Despite the coining of this term, it wasn’t until 1998 when an official statement was passed for animal rights. Uncaged, which is an animal protection organization, created International Animal Rights Day to shed light on all types of violence against animals. The founders behind this day stated that, since animals cannot protest, vote, or advocate for their own protection, it is the responsibility of humans to do it for them. December 10 was intentionally chosen so that International Animal Rights Day falls on the same day as Human Rights Day. Since then, events, demonstrations, and fundraisers, often covered by traditional media, have been organized worldwide to expose the reality of animal abuse and exploitation.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 10, 2021 11:56:18 GMT
Human Rights Day – December 10, 2021~World
Human Rights Day on December 10 remembers the day the General Assembly of the UN adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. It is the most translated document around the world and is available in over 500 languages. It has inspired countries and people alike to start treating every person with the right to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. On Human Rights Day we acknowledge the importance of this document and the importance of human rights.
HISTORY OF HUMAN RIGHTS DAY Human Rights Day is the anniversary of the day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The day’s popularity is perhaps best demonstrated by the commemorative stamp that was issued by the United Nations Postal Administration in 1952, which received over 200,000 advanced orders.
The aim of the Declaration of Human Rights is to establish a common standard of living for all people across the planet that everyone is entitled to, and to in turn encourage all UN member states to strive towards the said standard of living for the people in their nation.
Although the rights are seen as more declarative than legally binding, they are commonly acknowledged to have had an impact on how human rights are perceived and to be a force for good.
Nowadays a different theme is selected for Human Rights Day each year. In 2014 the theme was “Every Day is Human Rights Day” and in 2016 it was “Stand up for someone’s rights today.” We should remember our human rights every day, but on December 10 we should remember them just a little bit more and embrace everyone around us as equals.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 11, 2021 18:05:08 GMT
Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster – December 11, 2021~Canada
The Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster is observed on December 11 every year. Although it is a holiday, Canadians still go to work, and it is pretty much an ordinary day for them. It is a nod to Canadian independence. The “Union Jack,” where logistics allow, is flown along with the Maple Leaf on federal buildings, airports, military bases from dawn to dusk to mark this day. It commemorates a British law that was passed on 11 December 1931. It was Canada’s final achievement of independence from Britain. The Statute of Westminster gave Canada and the other Commonwealth Dominions legal equality with Britain. These countries now had full legal freedom — except in areas which they chose. The Statute also defined the powers of Canada’s Parliament and those of the other Dominions. The day is mostly celebrated in Canada.
HISTORY OF ANNIVERSARY OF THE STATUTE OF WESTMINSTER Before 1931, the British government had much influence over legislation passed by the Commonwealth Dominions (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Irish Free State, and Newfoundland). Things began to change after the First World War — after the sacrifices of Canada and other Dominions on the battlefield stirred feelings of nationhood and desires for complete autonomy.
Canada began to assert its independence in foreign policy in the early 1920s. In 1922, Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King denied help to British occupation forces in Turkey without first getting the approval of his Parliament. Later on, in 1923, Canada signed a fisheries’ treaty with the United States without seeking permission from Britain. In 1926, Canada established an embassy in Washington, DC, and Vincent Massey was named its first Canadian minister. This made him Canada’s first-ever diplomatic envoy posted to a foreign capital.
The Imperial Conference of 1926 was a more formal step. It gave legal backbone to the Balfour Report from earlier that year. The report had announced that Britain and its Dominions were constitutionally “equal in status.” The work of changing the Commonwealth’s complex legal system continued at the 1929 Conference on the Operation of Dominion Legislation. The Imperial Conference of 1930 further confirmed the need for the Dominions to have greater autonomy of their legislature. On 11 December 1931, the Statute of Westminster was passed by the British Parliament. This was done at the request and with the consent of the Dominions. This statute ratified the Dominions’ legislative independence. Although it had been granted the right to self-government in 1867, Canada did not enjoy full legal autonomy until the Statute was passed on December 11, 1931.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 11, 2021 18:07:44 GMT
Christmas Jumper Day – December 11, 2021~U.K.
The most magical time of the year brings with it Christmas Jumper Day which will be celebrated in the UK on December 11 this year. From ugly sweaters to cozy mock necks, we can’t think of a more fun way to get into the spirit of the season than wearing your favorite Christmas jumper. Better yet, celebrate the joy of giving by raising funds for a great cause on Christmas Jumper Day.
HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY It really is heartwarming to see everyone from grandparents to colleagues don their favorite and sometimes craziest festive wear on Christmas Jumper Day. While it is always fun to see reindeers, elves, and famous characters from pop culture on clothing everywhere, the day serves a more important agenda. The primary focus of the tradition is to raise awareness and money for children who are in need.
Christmas Jumper Day was initiated by ‘Save the Children’ – a reputable charity dedicated to the rights of children, on December 14, 2012. A fundraiser is hosted annually by the organization, in which everyone is encouraged to get involved by wearing creative Christmas jumpers. There is no set date for the holiday but is always celebrated on a Friday a couple of weeks before Christmas Day.
Over the past eight years, the concept of this day has been embraced wholeheartedly by the entire nation, with many A-list celebrities expressing their support for this cause and some citizens going to great lengths to boost fundraising.
Donations of a minimum of £2, or a minimum of £1 for children and youngsters, are contributed to the Save the Children organization by people wearing creative knitwear on this dedicated day. The amount is used to aid kids to be healthy, stay nourished with food, acquire education, and change their future!
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Post by pennmom on Dec 11, 2021 18:09:31 GMT
International Mountain Day – December 11, 2021~World
Mountains are some of the most interesting geological features that our world has to offer. Clear proof of the massive changes that happen beneath the surface of our planet, mountains have also served as playgrounds and places of worship for countless generations of humans. Anything that’s been such a mainstay for so many people and cultures through millennia is worth commemorating. So on December 11, we celebrate International Mountain Day!
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Post by pennmom on Dec 11, 2021 18:11:31 GMT
International Shareware Day – December 11, 2021~International
International Shareware Day is celebrated on the second Saturday of every December. This year, the day will be observed on December 11. Programmers spend hours in front of a computer to make modern life better and easier. Shareware is software that is shared as “try before you buy”. Shareware includes software for hundreds of programs, among others, Donkey Kong, WinZip, YouTube Downloader, antivirus programs, and Adobe Acrobat 8. When the trial period for the shareware is over, the user either starts paying or has to stop using the program. This helps the programmers to find any bugs in the trial phase of the program, and also makes potential users aware of what is out there.
HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL SHAREWARE DAY Andrew Fleugelman created the first piece of software called ‘freeware’, a PC-Talk telecommunications program. At that point, the term “freeware” was considered a misnomer and Fleugelman thought of it as “an experiment in economics more than altruism”. The term ‘shareware’ was first used for the program PC-Write, a word-processing tool, created by Bob Wallace in 1983. Prior to the widespread Internet access, shareware was often the only economical way for independent software authors to get their product onto users’ desktops.
Only a handful of shareware and freeware downloads are ever paid for. This makes it difficult for a programmer to rely on creating shareware for a sustainable income. It is a cause for concern since this mode of software production has created some of the most wonderful software tools that have been made available to users around the globe. This includes virus protection software, audio, and video file players, and many other applications. The lack of money in shareware, or, more precisely, the unwillingness of users to pay for shareware, means that a lot of this software isn’t updated regularly and becomes redundant with time.
Things as common as electric windows in your car, the blender for making healthy smoothies, and a smartphone taxi app are only some daily life examples of shareware and computer programs that we don’t think about paying for. The applications that help us save money and avoid paying for unnecessary expenses, often leave their creators underpaid! International Shareware Day is a day dedicated to the programmers who come up with innovative ways to make our lives easier, more efficient, and productive. This day was created to remind shareware users about the value they’ve gained through their use of these programs, most of them for free or low fees.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 11, 2021 18:13:42 GMT
National App Day – December 11, 2021~U.S.
Whether you want to take a selfie for the ’Gram, tweet your thoughts, or keep your favorite music at your fingertips, celebrate the marvelous world of apps on National App Day on December 11. Not only do apps make life easier, but they have also created a huge number of employment opportunities for developers, social media warriors, and of course, influencers.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL APP DAY It seems wild now to think that there was a life without apps, and the fact that they haven’t even been around for too long is even more unbelievable considering their prominence in today’s society. Although computers are equipped with apps, people primarily use them on mobile devices and tablets. Today, even basic phone functions like sending a text message or making a call are done through apps.
In the 1980s, Psion — a London-based company, launched the Psion Organizer, widely considered to be the first-established PDA device. The functions of the Organizer weren’t much, but it did come with features like a calculator, text editor, agenda, and contacts. This set a precedent for future mobile-app developments.
It was the visionary Steve Jobs who first came up with the idea of an ‘App Store’ back in 1983. He envisioned a database where software could be purchased over calls. Along with the advent of the revolutionary iPod by Apple, the iTunes store was launched, paving the way for Apple’s future App Store. In 2007, the first iPhone was introduced to the world, and a year later, the App Store was introduced.
There were only about 500 apps when the App Store was launched originally, meaning it is difficult to identify the official first app ever to be released. Nevertheless, as more and more smartphones were unveiled, various app clients were also launched. These include Google Play for Android, BlackBerry’s App World, and Amazon’s Appstore.
With app downloads reaching more than 175 billion in the year 2017, C.J. Thompson, founder of the mobile marketing agency Platinum Edge Media, created National App Day. The day is celebrated on December 11 and promotes the collective culture of apps and innovation.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 11, 2021 18:15:34 GMT
Noodle Ring Day – December 11, 2021~U.S.
National Noodle Ring Day is celebrated on December 11. The day recognizes recipes where pasta is made into a delicious round casserole. Noodle rings are perfect for enjoying, from delicious pasta salad to quite complex baked pasta dishes, limited only by your budget, adventurous spirit, and creative nature. The day is best known for celebrating the pasta dish formed in an 8 or 9-inch ring mold or ‘bundt pan’. For many, making Noodle Ring meals will bring back memories of bygone times in which a ‘bundt pan’ was used to make anything from salads and cakes to pasta. The joy of these fond reminders of loved ones, great meals, and good times, could revive this dish to its former glory.
HISTORY OF NOODLE RING DAY The Noodle Ring recipe was a favorite back in the 1900s, and the recipe featured regularly in many cookbooks of the time. One of the oldest recipes for Noodle Ring comes from a Pennsylvania Dutch recipe written in 1936. It advises that the noodles should be mixed with flour, milk, egg, and cheese and poured into a ‘bundt pan’, and baked. A similar recipe called Noodle Kugel was made using similar ingredients and was served with filling in the center. It was a popular Jewish dish that appeared on Yom Tov and Shabbat menus. Another record of the noodle ring comes from a Catholic cookbook published in 1965. It recommends the dish be served during lent and the filling for the middle could be vegetables, creamed fish, or creamed chicken.
Today a typical noodle ring is made with a mixture of pasta, eggs, and cheese. Some may also prepare it by mixing eggs, noodles, flour, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, cheese, and other ingredients. This mixture is transferred into a ring mold and baked. Once the baking is done, the noodle ring is removed from the mold and served on a plate with some creamed chicken, vegetable stew, or steamed mushrooms.
The introduction of mac and cheese has affected the popularity of noodle rings. The historic noodle ring is slowly disappearing from restaurant menus and our homes. Noodle Ring Day celebrates this almost forgotten recipe. If you enjoy having noodles, try preparing this for your Christmas (or any other) party dinner, as it easily impresses everyone without needing much effort.
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Post by pennmom on Dec 11, 2021 18:18:08 GMT
UNICEF Birthday – December 11, 2021~International
Around the world on December 11, people celebrate UNICEF Birthday, commemorating the day the charity was created in 1946. UNICEF, or the United Nations Children’s Fund, was initially created to provide emergency food and healthcare to children and mothers in countries that had been devastated by World War II. Now, the reputable and trustworthy charity has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization by providing healthcare and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. On this day, we especially remember their global impact and how we can make a difference ourselves.
HISTORY OF UNICEF BIRTHDAY UNICEF, or the United Nations Children’s Fund, is an agency that is part of the United Nations, which is responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children across the globe. The agency is one of the most extensive and distinguished social-welfare organizations in the world, with a presence in 192 countries and territories.
UNICEF is the beneficiary of the International Children’s Emergency Fund (ICEF), which was created by the U.N. Relief Rehabilitation Administration in 1946 to provide children and mothers affected by World War II with immediate aid. In that same year, the U.N. General Assembly founded the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to further institutionalize post-war relief work.
In 1950, UNICEF’s mission was expanded to confront the long-term needs of women and children, especially in developing countries. In 1953, the organization became an established component of the United Nations System. Following this, its name was changed to the United Nations Children’s Fund, though it kept the original acronym.
UNICEF relies entirely on contributions from governments and private donors. In 2019, UNICEF’s 137 government partners, along with intergovernmental organizations and inter-organizational arrangements, contributed $4.7 billion. The charity organization consists of government representatives that have been appointed by the United Nations Economic and Social Council, generally for three-year terms. 36 members on the executive board establish policies, approve programs, and oversee administrative and financial plans.
UNICEF has and continues to contribute greatly to humanitarian causes around the world. In 2018, it assisted in the birth of 27 million babies, administered pentavalent vaccines to an estimated 65.5 million children, provided education for 12 million children, treated four million children with severe acute malnutrition, and responded to 285 humanitarian emergencies in 90 countries.
For its contribution to humanity, UNICEF has received outstanding recognition for its work, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965, the Indira Gandhi Prize in 1989, and the Princess of Asturias Award in 2006. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, UNICEF, along with the World Health Organization and other agencies, issued instructions on healthy parenting. Every year, on December 11, we remember the creation of UNICEF and consider donating to help even more children in need around the world.
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pennmom
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[TI0] ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, UNLESS YOU CAN BE A UNICORN. THEN ALWAYS BE A UNICORN!
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Post by pennmom on Dec 12, 2021 13:32:38 GMT
Worldwide Candle Lighting Day – December 12, 2021~World
Worldwide Candle Lighting Day is celebrated the second Sunday of every December. Although the day is recognized during the most festive of holiday seasons, Worldwide Candle Lighting Day has nothing to do with traditional religious and cultural Christmas celebrations. Worldwide Candle Lighting Day is a virtual 24-hour global candle lighting ceremony symbolizing compassionate support for each other by families grieving the loss of a child. Believed to be the world’s largest candle lighting ceremony, the day unites those who remember the children who have passed on.
HISTORY OF WORLDWIDE CANDLE LIGHTING DAY When a child departs this life early, the grief can be overwhelming on a level unequaled by any other human tragedy.
There is no magic formula to mend the broken heart, fill the void, and process the devastating sadness in the wake of a child’s death. Regardless of the child’s age and whether the death was sudden or expected, the journey through grief that parents, grandparents, and siblings must endure when a child’s life is taken away is a difficult road to travel. Those who embark on this journey often feel alone and isolated.
In May of 1968 the Reverend Simon Stephens, a chaplain at the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital in England, recognized a unique opportunity to bring two sets of grieving parents together whose sons each lay dying in the same hospital. Reverend Stephens hoped that the parents, Joe and Iris Lawley, whose son Kenneth was killed in a traffic accident, and Bill and Joan Henderson, whose son Billy died from cancer, might find solace and comfort by sharing their stories and grieving for and with each other.
The comfort and support that the Lawleys and Hendersons experienced by sharing the common grief of losing a son was a healing balm they wanted to share with other parents mourning the loss of a child. Reverend Stephens facilitated their meeting with other bereaved parents whom he had consoled at the hospital, and in January 1969, The Compassionate Friends organization was formed.
In 1997 The Compassionate Friends of the United States began Worldwide Candle Lighting Day as an annual gift of compassionate support to unite the families of the sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, and grandchildren who departed this earth too soon. The first ceremony was a small internet event that has since grown to include thousands of formal and informal gatherings all around the world.
Today, hundreds of Worldwide Candle Lighting Day gatherings are supported by local churches, funeral homes, hospitals, hospices, schools, cemeteries, memorial gardens, and community centers. In 2019 The Compassionate Friends added a virtual Worldwide Candle Lighting Memorial Wall where members could share a memorial message in honor and memory of their child, grandchild, or sibling.
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Dec 12, 2021 13:47:10 GMT
Universal Health Coverage Day – December 12, 2021~International
Universal Health Coverage Day is observed annually on December 12 with the aim to ensure people around the world can get the quality health services they need without financial hardship.
To end the crisis and build a safer and healthier future, we must invest in health systems that protect us all. On Universal Health Coverage Day, let’s come together to demand action on universal health coverage.
HISTORY OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE DAY Universal Health Coverage Day was originally promoted by the World Health Organization. The World Health Organization is part of the United Nations and is responsible for international public health. In December 2012, the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution urging countries to fast-forward universal healthcare progression. The foundation hopes to cement the idea that everyone, everywhere should have access to affordable and quality healthcare, which is a vital priority for international development.
While all UN member states, including the United States, committed to accelerating the progress towards universal health, approximately 30 million Americans remain uninsured. Many middle- and low-income countries are also attempting to move in the direction of affordable and quality health care but there is still a lot of work to be done. Three countries are especially highlighted for their quality healthcare structures. Germany, which has the world’s first and oldest health-insurance system, the Netherlands, which has one of the best-performing healthcare systems, as well as Canada, which is America’s neighbor of equal geographical size.
The first modern healthcare system was established by a German named Chancellor Otto von Bismarck in 1883. The insurance model, called the ‘Bismarckian system’, required everyone to have insurance through sickness funds, which were similar to the current-day non-profit health-insurance companies. This coverage was initially only limited to blue-collar workers. Over time, mandatory health insurance became something for other societal classes. By 1987, nearly 90% of the population was covered. In 2007, Germany established its ultimate goal by passing a law that mandated health insurance for all residents.
In Canada, Saskatchewan became the first province to introduce universal public health insurance for hospital and diagnostic services in 1947. Today, all Canadians are automatically covered by Medicare — the country’s publicly funded healthcare system — which includes 13 provincial and territorial health plans. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, private insurance and compulsory sickness-fund systems were consolidated into a single system in 2006. All residents are required to obtain health insurance, purchased on a national exchange.
Universal Health Coverage Day is also an opportunity to reflect on the progress made to date in the U.S. No two countries take the same path when it comes to healthcare, as they build their systems by taking into account their own historical, cultural, and sociopolitical contexts. While the U.S. has not yet achieved universal health coverage, the UN goal for 2030 is within reach for the country, as well as around the globe.
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