National Date Nut Bread Day:

(excerpted from http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/December/datenutbreadday.htm)

There is some question as to the correct date for this special day. A survey of the net, resulted in roughly half of the references for this day claiming it is on September 8th. In our survey, a very slight majority record this special day on December 8. We go with the majority for two reasons: First, it is the majority. Second, this day fits well in the holiday season. Date Nut Bread is popular for the holidays.

Pardon Day:

(excerpted from http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/September/pardonday.htm)

Pardon Day is today. Its an opportunity to seek forgiveness where needed.

Today is also a day to say “Pardon Me”, or Excuse Me” as appropriate. In today’s busy society, too many people race about their lives, forgetting the small courtesies in life. Among the easiest things to let slip by, is etiquette.

Use Pardon Day to reaffirm your manners. Say “Pardon Me” or “Excuse Me” as appropriate. People will like you more. And, your mom will be so proud!

Perigean Spring Tides:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/perigean-spring-tides-2010-calendar)

Spring tides, the highest possible tides, occur when New Moon or Full Moon falls within 24 hours of the moment the Moon is nearest Earth (perigee) in its monthly orbit. These tides are not named for the season of spring but for the German springen, “to leap up.”

Rosh Hashanah:

(excerpted from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-brad-hirschfield/rosh-hashanah-2010-libera_b_702705.html)

Rosh Hashanah 2010, the Jewish New Year, begins at sundown on September 8th. And while it marks the turn of Jewish calendar year 5770 to 5771, it also celebrates the fundamental human need for liberation, return and renewal.

The Jewish holidays, especially Rosh Hashanah, are not only for Jews. In fact, they celebrate the most basic human quest — the quest to make our lives richer, happier and more productive. They also invite us to think about how to help others achieve the same things.

World Physical Therapy Day:

(excerpted from http://www.wcpt.org/wptday09)

World Physical Therapy Day falls on 8th September every year, and is an opportunity for physical therapists from all over the world to raise awareness about the crucial contribution their profession makes to keeping people well, mobile and independent. Although it is up to member organisations and other groups to decide how they would like to mark the day, WCPT does support them in their efforts and provide ideas and information.

International Literacy Day:

(excerpted from http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/literacy/)

Literacy is a cause for celebration since there are now close to four billion literate people in the world. However, literacy for all – children, youth and adults – is still an unaccomplished goal and an ever moving target. A combination of ambitious goals, insufficient and parallel efforts, inadequate resources and strategies, and continued underestimation of the magnitude and complexity of the task accounts for this unmet goal. Lessons learnt over recent decades show that meeting the goal of universal literacy calls not only for more effective efforts but also for renewed political will and for doing things differently at all levels – locally, nationally and internationally.

Today in History:

1974 Ford pardons Nixon

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/9/8)

In a controversial executive action, President Gerald Ford pardons his disgraced predecessor Richard Nixon for any crimes he may have committed or participated in while in office. Ford later defended this action before the House Judiciary Committee, explaining that he wanted to end the national divisions created by the Watergate scandal.

1664 New Amsterdam becomes New York

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/new-amsterdam-becomes-new-york)

Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant surrenders New Amsterdam, the capital of New Netherland, to an English naval squadron under Colonel Richard Nicolls. Stuyvesant had hoped to resist the English, but he was an unpopular ruler, and his Dutch subjects refused to rally around him. Following its capture, New Amsterdam’s name was changed to New York, in honor of the Duke of York, who organized the mission.

The colony of New Netherland was established by the Dutch West India Company in 1624 and grew to encompass all of present-day New York City and parts of Long Island, Connecticut, and New Jersey. A successful Dutch settlement in the colony grew up on the southern tip of Manhattan Island and was christened New Amsterdam.

Celebrity Birthdays:

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patsy_Cline)

Patsy Cline (September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963), born Virginia Patterson Hensley, was an American country music singer who enjoyed pop music crossover success during the era of the Nashville sound in the early 1960s. Since her death in 1963 at age 30 in a private airplane crash at the height of her career, she has been considered one of the most influential, successful, and acclaimed female vocalists of the 20th century.

Cline was best known for her rich tone and emotionally expressive bold contralto voice,[1] which, along with her role as a mover and shaker in the country music industry, has been cited as an inspiration by many vocalists of various music genres. Her life and career have been the subject of numerous books, movies, documentaries, articles and stage plays.

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._C._Greenwood)

L.C. Henderson Greenwood (born September 8, 1946 in Canton, Mississippi) is a former American football defensive end for the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers.

Greenwood graduated from Arkansas AM&N,where he began a member of the Beta Theta Chapter Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity,Inc. in 1969 after being named a 1968 Ebony All-American for his play on the defensive line.

He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969 in the 10th round. In 1971, he became the starting left defensive end. One of the four members of Pittsburgh’s famous Steel Curtain defensive line, he would remain there until retirement in 1981. Greenwood, who was 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 245 pounds, was a six-time Pro Bowl player and was named to NFL All-Pro teams in 1974 and 1975. He was named All-AFC five times. He also led the Steelers six times in sacks with a career total of 73½ (sacks were an unofficial stat at the time).[1] According to records kept by the Steelers, Greenwood’s highest single-season sack total was 11, which he reached in 1974.[2] He further had 14 fumble recoveries in his career, including 5 in 1971, which tied for the NFL lead. Greenwood was one of the more quiet players on the Steelers defense. He had 4.7 in the 40-yard dash, and that speed allowed him to dominate his position.

White Balloon Day:

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_balloon_day)

White Balloon Day – Australia was adopted by Bravehearts in 1997 as a symbol of support for survivors of child sexual abuse. It first began after a public meeting in Belgium in October 1996, when 300,000 people gathered with white balloons to show public sympathy and support for the parents of girls who were sexually assaulted of a previously convicted and then released paedophile. White Balloon Day is now also an annual event in Australia held during National Child Protection Week.[citation needed] Its aim is to raise awareness of child sexual assault within the community.

Salami Day:

(excerpted from http://salamiday.spreadshirt.com/us/US/Shop/)

Salami Day, celebrated on September 7th annually, is a holiday commemorating the most beloved of meats in tube form, the salami. Visit www.salamiday.com for more details about this exciting and fun holiday. September is always just around the corner, so get your Salami Day shirt before it’s too late!

Neither Rain Nor Snow Day:

(excerpted from http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/September/neitherrainnorsnow.htm)

Right now, we bet you’re thinking “this special day is about a tranquil weather day with neither rain nor snow” ….wrong.

Here’s the real scoop on this special day:

Neither Rain Nor Snow Day celebrates the opening of the New York Post Office building on this day in 1914.

This following inscription was inscribed on the building:

“Neither snow nor rain not heat nor gloom of night ,stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

Here is the second misconception: A lot of people assume the inscription represents the Post Office motto. This assumption is incorrect. But, this inscription is very close to the old Pony Express rider’s motto. Which leads to a third misconception.. ……The Pony Express was not a government funded predecessor to today’s Post Office. The Pony Express was a courier and message delivery service. However, it was privately owned and funded.

National Feel the Love Day:

(excerpted from http://www.petcentric.com/Stories/Articles/National-Feel-the-Love-Day.aspx?articleid=201069cb-daa4-44a1-b8bd-c4486767b883)

Our pets make our homes — and our hearts — feel complete. And National Feel The Love Day gives us a perfect holiday to share with our pets as well. Even though the holiday is officially celebrated on September 7, any true pet person will tell you that there are reasons to feel the love for our furry friends every day of the year. Why not curl up with your kitty or scratch your pup under the chin as you read through petcentric’s top ten ways to feel the love for dogs and cats.

National Acorn Squash Day:

(excerpted from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/351839/national_food_holidays_in_september.html?cat=22)

National Acorn Squash Day September 7: Acorn squash is a wonderful fall dish. All you need to do is roast the squash until tender and then top with a mixture of brown sugar, butter, and toasted pecans. Top off this food holiday with turkey cutlets and homemade cranberry sauce.

Grandma Moses Day:

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandma_Moses)

Anna Mary Robertson Moses (September 7, 1860 – December 13, 1961), better known as “Grandma Moses”, was a renowned American folk artist. She is most often cited as an example of an individual successfully beginning a career in the arts at an advanced age. Moses had ten children but five died at birth.

On her 100th birthday in 1960, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller proclaimed the day “Grandma Moses Day” in her honor.

Another Look Unlimited Day:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/another-look-unlimited-day)

Your house, garage, barn, shed, attic or yard.  Encourages everyone to look over their possessions and give surplus to charity or reuse in other projects. Lessen the flow to landfills. Annually, the day after Labor Day.

Today in History:

Google Founded

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/google-founded)

Sept 7, 1998. Sergey Brin and Larry Page incorporated the Internet search engine company Google on this date at Menlo Park, CA. Although still in beta, Google.com was receiving 10,000 queries a day at that time. Within a year, the company was doing 3 million searches a day. Before long, Google entered the pop culture zeitgeist by becoming a verb for Internet searching.

1977 Carter agrees to transfer Panama Canal to Panama

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/carter-agrees-to-transfer-panama-canal-to-panama)

On this day in 1977, President Jimmy Carter signs a treaty that will give Panama control over the Panama Canal beginning in the year 2000. The treaty ended an agreement signed in 1904 between then-President Theodore Roosevelt and Panama, which gave the U.S. the right to build the canal and a renewable lease to control five miles of land along either side of it.

“Truth or Consequences” TV Premiere 60th Anniversary

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/truth-or-consequences-tv-premiere)

Sept 7, 1950. This game show lasted for many years on both radio and TV. The half-hour show was based on a parlor game: contestants who failed to answer a question before the buzzer (nicknamed Beulah) went off had to perform stunts (i.e., pay the consequences). Ralph Edwards created and hosted the show until 1954, then it became a prime-time show hosted by Jack Bailey. Bob Barker succeeded him in 1966 and hosted it through its syndicated run. In 1977 the show was revived as “The New Truth or Consequences” with Bob Hilton as host.

1940 The Blitz begins

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-blitz-begins)

On this day in 1940, 300 German bombers raid London, in the first of 57 consecutive nights of bombing. This bombing “blitzkrieg” (lightning war) would continue until May 1941.

After the successful occupation of France, it was only a matter of time before the Germans turned their sights across the Channel to England. Hitler wanted a submissive, neutralized Britain so that he could concentrate on his plans for the East, namely the land invasion of the Soviet Union, without interference. Since June, English vessels in the Channel had been attacked and aerial battles had been fought over Britain, as Germany attempted to wear down the Royal Air Force in anticipation of a land invasion. But with Germany failing to cripple Britain’s air power, especially in the Battle of Britain, Hitler changed strategies. A land invasion was now ruled out as unrealistic; instead Hitler chose sheer terror as his weapon of choice.

Celebrity Birthdays:

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Holly)

Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959) known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll. Although his success lasted only a year and a half before his death in an airplane crash, Holly is described by critic Bruce Elder as “the single most influential creative force in early rock and roll.” His works and innovations inspired and influenced contemporary and later musicians, notably The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Don McLean, and Bob Dylan, and exerted a profound influence on popular music. Holly was amongst the first group of inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Holly #13 among “The Fifty Greatest Artists of All Time”.

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Feinstein)

Michael Jay Feinstein (born September 7, 1956) is an American singer, a pianist, music revivalist, and an interpreter of, and anthropologist and archivist for, the repertoire known as the Great American Songbook. In 1988 he won a Drama Desk Special Award for celebrating American musical theater songs.

Birthday Greetings:

Happy Birthday Kevin Abraham!

Labor Day

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Day)

Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September (September 6 in 2010).

The first Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882 in New York City, by the Central Labor Union of New York, the nation’s first integrated major trade union. It became a federal holiday in 1894, when, following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with the labor movement as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike. The September date originally chosen by the CLU of NY and observed by many of the nation’s trade unions for the past several years was selected rather than the more widespread International Workers’ Day because Cleveland was concerned that observance of the latter would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair, for which it had been observed to commemorate. All 50 U.S. states have made Labor Day a state holiday.

Read a Book Day:

(excerpted from http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/September/readabook.htm)

Read a Book Day is today. Take time out of your busy life, and relax with a good book. Cozy up on a chair, indoors or out. It doesn’t matter where you read that book, as long as you can do so in a comfortable manner. If you doze off along the way, we won’t tell anyone.

Reading is a great lifetime hobby. It offers so many positive attributes. It’s relaxing and therapeutic. It’s educational. Its entertaining. And, a whole lot of other good things, too.

National Coffee Ice Cream Day

(excerpted from http://www.mahalo.com/national-coffee-ice-cream-day)

Ice cream lovers have the opportunity to celebrate an unofficial food holiday on September 6: This day is observed as National Coffee Ice Cream Day in the United States. http://www.tfdutch.com/foodh.htm3 Haagen Dazs, Ben and Jerrys, and Starbucks all sell a commercially available coffee ice cream which can be found in local grocery stores. National ice cream manufacturers Edy’s and Dreyers also offer a coffee ice cream. Coffee ice cream combines the flavor of the morning drink with ice cream to make a flavored dessert. Coffee ice cream may be used in gourmet coffee drink recipes.

National Iguana Awareness Day

(excerpted from http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/iguanas/a/niad.htm)

“Hard to care for…easy to love” was the slogan for the group of dedicated iguana owners who volunteered their time and efforts to organize “National Iguana Awareness Day” (NIAD). Although NIAD was officially disbanded in 2001, the mission of NIAD remains.

The cornerstone of the NIAD campaign was education, through the dissemination of appropriate care and advice to owners and pet shops selling iguanas. Volunteers were encouraged to hand out pamphlets and fliers, make presentations to interested groups, and make media contacts. Despite dropping the official iguana awareness day, increasing awareness of the proper care of iguanas is certainly an ongoing campaign

Fight Procrastination Day

(excerpted from http://www.onlineorganizing.com/CalendarHoliday.asp?holiday=30)

Putting things off — we’ve all been guilty of it. You don’t like doing the job at hand, the task seems OVERWHELMING, you’re a perfectionist, you don’t know where to begin, the job seems scary, you are afraid of failing — there are lots of reasons for PROCRASTINATING. You can’t make yourself do something you hate, but you can learn not to hate the job quite as much. Overcoming procrastination is less about developing will-power, and more about creating an environment that is CONDUCIVE to completing the task at hand. So let’s take a moment this month to look at some ways you can curb your tendency to procrastinate.

Today in History:

William McKinley (25th US President) Shot

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_McKinley_assassination)

The William McKinley assassination occurred on September 6, 1901, at the Temple of Music in Buffalo, New York. United States President William McKinley, attending the Pan-American Exposition, was shot twice by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist.

McKinley initially appeared to be recovering from his wounds, but took a turn for the worse six days after the shooting and died on September 14, 1901. Theodore Roosevelt succeeded McKinley as President. McKinley was the third of four U.S. presidents to be assassinated, following Abraham Lincoln in 1865 and James A. Garfield in 1881 and preceding John F. Kennedy in 1963. After McKinley’s murder, Congress officially charged the Secret Service with the physical protection of U.S. presidents.

1522 Magellan’s expedition circumnavigates globe

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/9/6?catId=6)

One of Ferdinand Magellan’s five ships–the Vittoria–arrives at SanlÚcar de Barrameda in Spain, thus completing the first circumnavigation of the world. The Vittoria was commanded by Basque navigator Juan SebastiÁn de Elcano, who took charge of the vessel after the murder of Magellan in the Philippines in April 1521. During a long, hard journey home, the people on the ship suffered from starvation, scurvy, and harassment by Portuguese ships. Only Elcano, 17 other Europeans, and four Indians survived to reach Spain in September 1522.

Celebrity Birthdays:

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Foxworthy)

Jeffery Marvin “Jeff” Foxworthy (born September 6, 1958) is an American stand-up comedian and television personality. As the best-selling comedy recording artist of all time, he is a member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, a comedy troupe which also comprises Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall and Ron White. Known for his “you might be a redneck” one-liners, Foxworthy has released six major-label comedy albums. His first two albums were each certified 3×multi-Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Foxworthy has also written several books based on his redneck jokes, as well as an autobiography entitled, No Shirt, No Shoes… No Problem!

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Vargas)

Elizabeth Vargas (born September 6, 1962) is a television journalist who is anchor of ABC’s television news magazine 20/20 and ABC News Specials. She was previously an anchor of World News Tonight.

Vargas was the first woman to anchor a network evening newscast in the U.S. since Connie Chung, and the first national evening news anchor of Puerto Rican and Irish American heritage. She is said to be particularly proud of an ABC special report in which she questioned why the Laci Peterson case merited more attention than two other similar cases, one involving a black woman and the other involving a Hispanic woman. Another story she did, based on the book The Da Vinci Code and the role of Mary Magdalene, helped fuel a nationwide religious debate. Vargas stated that for centuries Mary Magdalene has been portrayed as a prostitute by the church, despite evidence to the contrary. She went on to question the strictly limited role of women within the church. In 1999, she won an Emmy Award for her coverage of the Elián González story and in 1998, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her 20/20 investigation into the wrongful conviction of Betty Tyson.

Birthday Greetings:

Happy 8^th Birthday to Dexter Froud

Cheese Pizza Day:

(excerpted from http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/September/cheesepizzaday.htm)

Cheese Pizza Day is a day to chow down with one of America’s favorite meals. Pizza is a favorite of young and old. Originating from Italian cuisine, it’s a staple in the American diet. For many American families “Pizza night” is a Friday or Saturday routine. It’s also popular at parties.

You can have Cheese Pizza anyway you want. There’s thin or thick crust. Extra cheese is the “norm” for many cheese pizza lovers.

To celebrate Cheese Pizza Day, just order a cheese pizza. Or, make a homemade cheese pizza.

Be Late For Something Day:

(excerpted from http://www.zanyholidays.com/2007/09/little-behind-schedule.html)

Today is Be Late For Something Day. So use this opportunity to be obnoxiously not on time for any number of occasions.

Some suggestions:

Work * School

A dentist appointment

A first date

Mortgage/Rent Payment

Just make sure you don’t get yourself into too much trouble, and when you’re ready to start being on time again, look into picking up a nice watch.

Father’s Day in Australia:

(excerpted from http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/australia/father-day)

Many Australians observe Father’s Day on the first Sunday of September. It is a day for people to show their appreciation for fathers and father figures. Father figures may include stepfathers, fathers-in-law, guardians (eg. foster parents), and family friends.

First Labor Day Observance:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/first-labor-day-observance)

Sept 5, 1882. On this day in New York City, the first observance of Labor Day was held. It was organized by the Central Labor Union. Historians debate whether the inspiration came from Peter McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, or Matthew Maguire, secretary of the Central Labor Union. By 1884, other cities were honoring working people. In 1894, it became a federal holiday.

Today in History:

1975 Ford assassination attempt thwarted

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ford-assassination-attempt-thwarted)

In Sacramento, California, an assassination attempt against President Gerald Ford is foiled when a Secret Service agent wrests a semi-automatic .45-caliber pistol from Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a follower of incarcerated cult leader Charles Manson. Fromme was pointing the loaded gun at the president when the Secret Service agent grabbed it. Seventeen days later, Ford escaped injury in another assassination attempt when 45-year-old Sara Jane Moore fired a revolver at him. Moore, a leftist radical who once served as an informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, had a history of mental illness. She was arrested at the scene, convicted, and sentenced to life.

1774 First Continental Congress convenes

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/9/5?catId=6)

In response to the British Parliament’s enactment of the Coercive Acts in the American colonies, the first session of the Continental Congress convenes at Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia. Fifty-six delegates from all the colonies except Georgia drafted a declaration of rights and grievances and elected Virginian Peyton Randolph as the first president of Congress. Patrick Henry, George Washington, John Adams, and John Jay were among the delegates.

Anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Teresa)

Mother Teresa (26 August 1910 – 5 September 1997), born Agnes Gonxhe Bojaxhiu (pronounced [aɡˈnɛs ˈɡɔndʒe bɔjaˈdʒiu]), was a Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity and Indian citizenship, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India in 1950. For over 45 years she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying, while guiding the Missionaries of Charity’s expansion, first throughout India and then in other countries. Following her death she was beatified by Pope John Paul II and given the title Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.

Celebrity Birthdays:

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Mazeroski)

William Stanley Mazeroski (born September 5, 1936, in Wheeling, West Virginia), nicknamed “Maz”, is a former Major League Baseball player who spent his entire career (1956–72) with the Pittsburgh Pirates. A key member of the Pirates’ World Series-winning teams in 1960 and 1971, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.

While one of the greatest defensive second basemen of all time, he is perhaps best known for winning the 1960 World Series with a dramatic game-ending home run. It remains as the first of two series-winning home runs in World Series history.

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Keaton)

Michael John Douglas (born September 5, 1951), better known as Michael Keaton, is an American actor, well known for his early comedic roles in films such as Night Shift, Mr. Mom, Johnny Dangerously, Beetlejuice, and for his dramatic portrayal of Batman[1] in Tim Burton’s Batman and Batman Returns, as well as lead roles in other films including The Paper, Jackie Brown, Jack Frost and White Noise.

Newspaper Carrier Day:

(excerpted from http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/September/newspapercarrier.htm)

Newspaper Carrier Day honors everyone who is now, or once was, a newspaper carrier. The list includes thousands, if not millions, of people. Years ago, this job was primarily populated by kids, from pre-teen through approximately sixteen. At that age, many, but not all, kids moved to restaurant, grocery store and retail type of jobs.

This day commemorates the hiring of the very first newspaper carrier. Newspaper carriers date back to the early 1800s. On September 10, 1833, 10 year old Barney Flaherty became the first newspaper carrier. Benjamin Day, publisher of The New York Sun, hired Barney Flaherty to sell papers for his penny press. The only job requirement, was that he had to show that he could throw a newspaper into the bushes.

Now, few kids deliver papers anymore except in small towns. But, but the “Carrier Day” tradition lives. This job is now largely held by adults, many of them delivering the paper from their cars.

National Macadamia Nut Day:

(excerpted from http://www.slashfood.com/2007/09/04/happy-national-macadamia-nut-day/)

I used to hate macadamia nuts with a passion. When I was a child and then a teen they just didn’t taste right to me. Maybe it was from years of eating just cashews and pistachios and almonds all the time, I don’t know, but I just didn’t enjoy them at all.

Eat an Extra Dessert Day:

(excerpted from http://www.examiner.com/dessert-in-philadelphia/eat-an-extra-dessert-on-september-4th)

September 4th is National Eat an Extra Dessert Day (who can argue with that?) so here is a run down of some great places in Philadelphia to grab an extra helping of dessert.

International Drive Your Studebaker Day:

(excerpted from http://studebu.tripod.com/id112.html)

Mark September 4, 2010 on your calendar now to join Studebaker Drivers around the world on the road and showing off your Studebaker car, truck or horse-drawn vehicle!

Animals’ Day (Curaçao):

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/curacao-animals-day)

In Curaçao the Association for the Protection of Animals organizes an animal show for this day and the best-kept animals are awarded prizes.

Today in History:

1886 Geronimo surrenders

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/9/4)

On this day in 1886, Apache chief Geronimo surrenders to U.S. government troops. For 30 years, the mighty Native American warrior had battled to protect his tribe’s homeland; however, by 1886 the Apaches were exhausted and hopelessly outnumbered. General Nelson Miles accepted Geronimo’s surrender, making him the last Indian warrior to formally give in to U.S. forces and signaling the end of the Indian Wars in the Southwest.

0476 Western Roman Empire falls

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/western-roman-empire-falls)

Romulus Augustus, the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed by Odoacer, a German barbarian who proclaims himself king of Italy.

Odoacer was a mercenary leader in the Roman imperial army when he launched his mutiny against the young emperor. At Piacenza, he defeated Roman General Orestes, the emperor’s powerful father, and then took Ravenna, the capital of the Western empire since 402. Although Roman rule continued in the East, the crowning of Odoacer marked the end of the original Roman Empire, which centered in Italy.

Celebrity Birthdays:

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Piazza)

Michael Joseph “Mike” Piazza (pronounced /piːˈɑːtsə/ or /piːˈɑːzə/);[which?] (born September 4, 1968, in Norristown, Pennsylvania, but grew up in Phoenixville, PA) is an Italian American former Major League Baseball catcher. He played in his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and the Oakland Athletics.

A 12-time All-Star, Piazza is often regarded as the best-hitting catcher of all time and holds the record for home runs hit by a catcher with 396, with a career total of 427. He had at least one RBI in 15 consecutive games for the New York Mets in 2000, the second-longest RBI streak ever (Ray Grimes of the Chicago Cubs had 17 consecutive games in 1922).

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyonc%C3%A9_Knowles)

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles (born September 4, 1981), often known simply as Beyoncé (pronounced /biˈjɒnseɪ/ bee-YON-say), is an American R&B and pop recording artist, actress and fashion model. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child. Knowles rose to fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the R&B girl group Destiny’s Child, one of the world’s best-selling girl groups of all time.

During the hiatus of Destiny’s Child, Knowles released her debut solo album Dangerously in Love (2003), which spawned the number one hits “Crazy in Love” and “Baby Boy” and became one of the most successful albums of that year, earning her a then record-tying five Grammy Awards. Following the group’s disbandment in 2005, Knowles released B’Day in 2006. It debuted at number one on the Billboard charts and included the hits “Déjà Vu”, “Irreplaceable” and “Beautiful Liar”. Her third solo album I Am… Sasha Fierce, released in November 2008, included the anthemic “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”. The album and its singles earned her six Grammy Awards, breaking the record for most Grammy Awards won by a female artist in one night. Knowles is one of the most honored artists by the Grammys, and third among female artists, with 16 awards—13 as a solo artist and three as a member of Destiny’s Child.

Lazy Moms Day:

(excerpted from http://sherrifoxman.typepad.com/daily_party_dish/2010/09/lazy-moms-day.html)

I love this one. September 3rd is National Lazy Mom’s Day. As far as I can tell, this is a day like Mother’s Day, but when Mom is expected to do NOTHING. If that isn’t a reason to celebrate, then I don’t know what is! It can’t be a coincidence that this fabulous holiday falls just after the kids have gone back to school.

Uncle Sam:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/uncle-sam)

Uncle Sam is the cartoon embodiment of the government of the United States of America, a character who appeared in newspapers and magazines beginning in the first part of the 19th century. The commonly accepted version of his origin, or at least the best explanation anyone’s been able to supply, is that he was modelled after Samuel Wilson, a meat purveyor to the United States army during the War of 1812. Known as “Uncle Sam,” Wilson put his initials on his goods. The initials U.S. were also taken to stand for United States. Over the years Uncle Sam evolved into a tall, white-haired man with beard, sporting patriotic colors and a top hat. The most common modern image can be traced to his depiction by James Montgomery Flagg from 1916, for a military recruitment poster calling “I Want YOU For the U.S. Army.”

Skyscraper Day:

(excerpted from http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/September/skyscraperday.htm)

Skyscraper Day is a day to appreciate and admire the world’s tallest skyscrapers.

Skyscrapers are truly engineering and architectural marvels. In many crowded cities, space is in short supply, and real estate prices are ever increasing. Building “up” becomes more and more logical. As technical capabilities in construction improved, skyscrapers have become taller and taller. In addition, there is a certain prestige to have one of the tallest structures in the world in your city.

National Welsh Rarebit Day:

(excerpted from http://www.mypunchbowl.com/holidays/national-welsh-rarebit-day)

If you’ve never had Welsh rarebit before, you’re probably wondering what it is! Welsh rarebit is a dish traditionally made by pouring cheese sauce mixed with ale over buttered toast. The first recorded use of the term was in 1725, though the origin of the word is unknown. It is thought that it was used as a slur against the notoriously poor Welsh because cheese and rabbit were the only foods they could afford.

Today, Welsh rarebit is a popular dish in Europe and around the world. If you’ve never had Welsh rarebit before, National Welsh Rarebit Day is a great opportunity to try it for the first time!

Casual Day:

(excerpted from http://www.casualday.co.za/)

Casual Day 2010 is on Friday 3 September! So, laugh a little, give a little! Wear your frown upside down, give everyone a reason to smile and support persons with disabilities!

Australia Flag Day:

(excerpted from http://www.aussie-info.com/identity/nationalflag.php)

On 28 August 1996, The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Sir William Deane, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, declared that 3 September in each year would be observed as “Australian National Flag Day” throughout Australia and in the external Territories of Australia.

Whilst Australian National Flag Day will not be a public holiday, it will be a day “to commemorate the day in 1901 when Australia’s National Flag was first flown.

Merchant Navy Remembrance Day (Canada):

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Merchant_Navy)

After the war, Canadian Merchant Navy veterans were denied veterans benefits and official recognition for decades. This was not corrected until the 1990s and many individual cases remain unresolved. An important gesture in 2001 was the creation of Merchant Navy Remembrance Day by the Canadian Parliament which designated September 3 as a day to recognize the contributions and sacrifice of Canadian merchant mariners.[2] Monuments to the Canadian Merchant Navy were erected in several Canadian cities, including at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Similar to the CMM Veterans status, World War II United States Merchant Marine Veterans were also denied veterans benefits and status until 1988.

Today in History:

1783 Treaty of Paris signed

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/9/3)

The American Revolution officially comes to an end when representatives of the United States, Great Britain, Spain and France sign the Treaty of Paris on this day in 1783. The signing signified America’s status as a free nation, as Britain formally recognized the independence of its 13 former American colonies, and the boundaries of the new republic were agreed upon: Florida north to the Great Lakes and the Atlantic coast west to the Mississippi River.

1777 The Stars and Stripes flies

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-stars-and-stripes-flies)

The American flag is flown in battle for the first time, during a Revolutionary War skirmish at Cooch’s Bridge, Maryland. Patriot General William Maxwell ordered the stars and strips banner raised as a detachment of his infantry and cavalry met an advance guard of British and Hessian troops. The rebels were defeated and forced to retreat to General George Washington’s main force near Brandywine Creek in Pennsylvania.

Celebrity Birthdays:

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaun_White)

Shaun Roger White (born September 3, 1986) is an American professional snowboarder and skateboarder. He is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He rides regular stance, twelve and negative three degrees on his board.

At the 2006 Winter Olympics, White won gold in the halfpipe. After his first run in qualifications, White was almost out of competition, scoring only 37.7. On his second run, he recorded a score of 45.3. In the finals, White recorded a score of 46.8 (50 is the highest possible score) to win. Fellow American Danny Kass won the silver with a points total of 44.0.

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Sheen)

Carlos Irwin Estévez (born September 3, 1965), known professionally as Charlie Sheen, is an American actor. His character roles in films have included Chris Taylor in the 1986 Vietnam War drama Platoon, Jake Kesey in the 1986 film The Wraith, and Bud Fox in 1987 film Wall Street. His career also included more comedic films, such as Major League, the Hot Shots! films, and Scary Movie 3 and 4. On television, Sheen is known for his roles on two sitcoms: as Charlie Crawford on Spin City, and as Charlie Harper on Two and a Half Men.

VJ Day:

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VJ_Day)

Victory over Japan Day (also known as Victory in the Pacific Day, V-J Day, or V-P Day) is a name chosen for the day on which the Surrender of Japan occurred, effectively ending World War II, and subsequent anniversaries of that event. The term has been applied to both the day on which the initial announcement of Japan’s surrender was made in the afternoon of August 15, 1945 in Japan, and because of time zone differences, to August 14, 1945 (when it was announced in the United States, Western Europe, the Americas, the Pacific Islands, and Australia), as well as to September 2, 1945 when the signing of the surrender document occurred.

August 15th is the official V-J Day for the UK while the official US commemoration is September 2nd. The name, V-J Day, had been selected by the Allies after they named V-E Day for the victory in Europe.

On September 2, 1945 a formal surrender ceremony was performed in Tokyo Bay, Japan aboard the battleship USS Missouri. In Japan, the day usually is known as the “memorial day for the end of the war” (終戦記念日, Shūsen-kinenbi?); the official name for the day, however, is “the day for mourning of war dead and praying for peace” (戦歿者を追悼し平和を祈念する日, Senbotsusha wo tsuitōshi heiwa wo kinennsuru hi?). This official name was adopted in 1982 by an ordinance issued by the Japanese government.

National Blueberry Popsicle Day:

(excerpted from http://www.mypunchbowl.com/holidays/national-blueberry-popsicle-day)

Blueberry Popsicles are a delightful summer treat! Popsicles were first invented in 1905 by an eleven year old named Frank Epperson. He first named his creation “Epsicle,” but it was changed to Popsicle eighteen years later.

By 1965, 34 different flavors of Popsicles were being produced, including blueberry. To celebrate National Blueberry Popsicle Day, purchase a blueberry Popsicle or make your own to enjoy!

National Beheading Day:

(excerpted from http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/September/beheadingday.htm)

National Beheading Day is today. Hold onto your hat. And, make certain to keep your head screwed on tight.

Every once in a while, we happen upon a special day that has no apparent rhyme or reasoning. We can’t imagine why someone would create this day. It defies logic. But, National Beheading Day is very prolific on the net. So, therefore, it warrants a few (very few) words.

Throughout histroy, beheadings have occurred. The list is long, including commoners and Kings. The most notable king to be beheaded was Charles I of England in 1645.

While this is a big day, don’t go crazy and lose your head.  In addition to protecting your neck, we suggest you spend this day reading about famous beheadings.

Calendar Adjustment Day:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/calendar-adjustment-day)

Pursuant to the British Calendar Act of 1751, Britain (and the American colonies) made the “Gregorian Correction” in 1752. The Act proclaimed that the day following Wednesday, Sept 2, should become Thursday, Sept 14, 1752. There was rioting in the streets by those who felt cheated and who demanded the 11 days back. The Act also provided that New Year’s Day (and the change of year number) should fall Jan 1 (instead of Mar 25) in 1752 and every year thereafter. As a result, 1751 only had 282 days. See also: “Gregorian Calendar Adjustment: Anniversary” (Feb 24, Oct 4).

Vietnam: Independence Day:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/vietnam-independence-day)

Ho Chi Minh formally proclaimed the independence of Vietnam from France and the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on this day in 1945. National holiday.

India: Krishna Janmashtami:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/india-krishna-janmashtami)

Hindu holiday. Birth anniversary of Lord Vishnu in his human incarnation as Krishna. Because there is no one universally accepted Hindu calendar, this holiday may be celebrated on a different date in some parts of India, but it always falls in August or September.

Today in History:

1969 First ATM opens for business

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/9/2)

On this day in 1969, America’s first automatic teller machine (ATM) makes its public debut, dispensing cash to customers at Chemical Bank in Rockville Center, New York. ATMs went on to revolutionize the banking industry, eliminating the need to visit a bank to conduct basic financial transactions. By the 1980s, these money machines had become widely popular and handled many of the functions previously performed by human tellers, such as check deposits and money transfers between accounts. Today, ATMs are as indispensable to most people as cell phones and e-mail.

1789 Congress founds US Treasury

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/congress-founds-us-treasury)

On this day in 1789, the United States Treasury Department is founded.

The institution’s roots can be traced to 1775, when America’s leaders were looking for ways to fund the Revolutionary War. Their solution–issuing cash that doubled as redeemable “bills of credit”–raised enough capital to fuel the revolution. but also led to the country’s first debt. The Continental Congress attempted to reign in the economy, even forming a pre-Constitutional version of the Treasury. Neither this move, nor the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which enabled the U.S. to seek loans from foreign countries, proved effective. The debt kept mounting, while war notes rapidly deflated in value.

With the ratification of the Constitution in 1789, the American government established a permanent Treasury Department in hopes of controlling the nation’s debt. President George Washington named his former aide-de-camp, Alexander Hamilton, to head the new office. The former New York lawyer and staunch Federalist stepped in as Secretary of the Treasury on September 11. Hamilton soon outlined a practical plan for reviving the nation’s ailing economy: the government would pay back its $75 million war debt and thus repair its badly damaged public credit.

Celebrity Birthdays:

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Bradshaw)

Terry Paxton Bradshaw (born September 2, 1948), also known by the nickname “Mr. Steel Arm”, is a former American football quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL). He played 14 seasons. He is a football analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday. In a six-year span, he won four Super Bowl titles with Pittsburgh (1974, 1975, 1978 and 1979), becoming the first quarterback to do so, and led the Steelers to eight AFC Central championships. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989, his first year of eligibility.

A tough competitor, Bradshaw had a powerful – albeit at times erratic – arm and called his own plays throughout his football career. His physical skills and on-the-field leadership played a major role in Pittsburgh Steelers history. During his career, he passed for more than 300 yards in a game only seven times, but three of those performances came in the post-season, and two of those in Super Bowls. In four career Super Bowl appearances he passed for 932 yards and 9 touchdowns, both Super Bowl records at the time of his retirement. In 19 postseason games he completed 261 passes for 3,833 yards.

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Harmon)

Mark Harmon (born September 2, 1951) is an American actor who has been starring in U.S. television programs and films since the mid-1970s, after a career as a collegiate football player with the UCLA Bruins. Since 2003, Harmon has starred as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the CBS series NCIS.

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/christa-mcauliffe-2010-calendar)

Sept 2, 1948. Christa McAuliffe, a 37-year-old Concord, NH, high school teacher, was to have been the first “ordinary citizen” in space. Born Sharon Christa Corrigan at Boston, MA, she perished with six crew members in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion Jan 28, 1986. See also: “Challenger Space Shuttle Explosion: Anniversary” (Jan 28).

Birthday Greetings:

Happy Birthday Gina Honkus!

Fight Procrastination Day:

(excerpted from http://www.onlineorganizing.com/CalendarHoliday.asp?holiday=30)

Putting things off — we’ve all been guilty of it. You don’t like doing the job at hand, the task seems OVERWHELMING, you’re a perfectionist, you don’t know where to begin, the job seems scary, you are afraid of failing — there are lots of reasons for PROCRASTINATING. You can’t make yourself do something you hate, but you can learn not to hate the job quite as much. Overcoming procrastination is less about developing will-power, and more about creating an environment that is CONDUCIVE  to completing the task at hand. So let’s take a moment this month to look at some ways you can curb your tendency to procrastinate.

Emma M Nutt Day:

(excerpted from http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art23054.asp)

Who was Emma M. Nutt? She was the first female telephone operator. She started on September 1, 1878 and worked for 33 years. According to Holiday Insights, she was quoted as being very thankful her first name was not Imma.

Chicken Boy’s Day:

(excerpted from http://www.holidays.net/dailys/holidays/chickenboy.htm)

A pop cultural icon in Los Angeles, Chicken Boy is a 22-foot-tall statue of a boy with a chicken’s head holding a bucket of chicken. Named for the former restaurant that shared his name, Chicken Boy was rescued from destruction by a local graphic design studio. Chicken Boy is also lovingly refered to as the “Statue of Liberty” of Los Angeles.

Constitution Day (Slovakia):

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/slovakia-constitution-day)

Sept 1. Anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Slovak Republic in 1992.

Kanto Earthquake Memorial Day (Japan):

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/japan-kanto-earthquake-memorial-day)

Sept 1. A day to remember the 57,000 people who died during Japan’s greatest earthquake in 1923.

Today in History:

1864 Confederates evacuate Atlanta

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/confederates-evacuate-atlanta)

With Union General William T. Sherman threatening to cut his only escape route, Confederate General John Bell Hood evacuates Atlanta, Georgia, at the climax of a four-month campaign by Sherman to capture the vital Rebel supply center.

1775 King George refuses Olive Branch Petition

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/king-george-refuses-olive-branch-petition)

Richard Penn and Arthur Lee, representing the Continental Congress, present the so-called Olive Branch Petition to the Earl of Dartmouth on this day in 1775. Britain’s King George III, however, refused to receive the petition, which, written by John Dickinson, appealed directly to the king and expressed hope for reconciliation between the colonies and Great Britain.

September to Remember:

(Chase’s 2010 Calendar)

World Animal Remembrance Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/world-animal-remembrance-month)

Sept 1–30.  A worldwide observance to remember, respect and honor the memory of all animals—a month to pay tribute to companion animal family members; animal victims of abuse, cruelty and neglect; animals lost in natural disasters and animals killed in the line of duty.

Women’s Friendship Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/women-s-friendship-month)

Sept 1–30. Every woman has special friends she can’t live without; those women to whom she tells everything, friends who will always listen and who know just what to say. Women’s Friendship Month provides the perfect opportunity for women to acknowledge the special women in their lives.

Update Your Resume Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/update-your-resume-month)

Sept 1–30. This month encourages employed individuals to update and maintain their resumes.

Subliminal Communications Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/subliminal-communications-month)

Sept 1–30. Not getting the results you want? Make a change for the positive and learn how to maximize your effectiveness. Learn how to put to use your entrepreneurial thinking to achieve your goals and increase your visibility socially or in the corporate world. Recognize and apply prosperity-building opportunities for increasing your networking, marketing and publicity goals through the use of color, scents and language. Finish the last quarter of the year successfully by using the powerful resources you already possess.

Sports and Home Eye Safety Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/sports-and-home-eye-safety-month)

Sept 1–30. There are thousands of eye injuries each year related to sports and hazards around the house. Tips on how to protect yourself and your children from such eye injuries will be discussed. For info: Prevent Blindness America®, 211 W Wacker Dr, Ste 1700, Chicago, IL 60606. Phone: (800) 331-2020. E-mail: info@preventblindness.com. Web: www.preventblindness.org.

Shameless Promotion Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/shameless-promotion-month)

Sept 1–30. This is the month for you to go out and promote yourself, your business, your book or your product shamelessly.

September is Healthy Aging® Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/september-is-healthy-aging-month)

Sept 1–30. Annual health observance designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older. This month is part of the Healthy Aging® Campaign, a national, ongoing health promotion designed to broaden awareness of the positive aspects of aging and to provide inspiration for adults, ages 50+, to improve their physical, mental, social and financial health. The Campaign is developed and produced by Educational Television Network, Inc. (ETNET), a nonprofit corporation based in Pennsylvania.

Pleasure Your Mate Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/pleasure-your-mate-month)

Sept 1–30. To promote love and show appreciation to your mate. Look for new ways to create happiness together. Use this event to establish a lifelong habit of sharing pleasure.

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/ovarian-cancer-awareness-month)

Sept 1–30. For info: Natl Ovarian Cancer Coalition, 2501 Oak Lawn Ave, Ste 435, Dallas, TX 75219. Phone: (214) 273-4200 or (888) OVARIAN. E-mail: nocc@ovarian.org. Web: www.ovarian.org.

One-On-One Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/one-on-one-month)

Sept 1–30. This is a month to get to know your co-workers, family members and friends better by meeting one on one. When people spend time together one on one, they are more likely to talk about their lives in a meaningful way. It is easier for them to express their hopes, dreams, ideas, and share their interests in ways that they would never do in a group or even a threesome.

National Skin Care Awareness Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/national-skin-care-awareness-month)

Sept 1–30. Learn how to achieve healthy, glowing beautiful skin! Topics include protecting your skin from the dangers of the sun, how diet and lifestyle affect your skin, developing a proper skin care routine and myths and facts about skin care products. All important knowledge for great-looking skin.

National Sickle Cell Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/national-sickle-cell-month)

Sept 1–30. For info: Sickle Cell Disease Assn of America, Inc, 231 E Baltimore St, Ste 800, Baltimore, MD 21202. Phone: (410) 528-1555 or (800) 421-8453. Fax: (410) 528-1495. E-mail: scdaa@sicklecelldisease.org. Web: www.SickleCellDisease.org.

National Preparedness Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/national-preparedness-month)

Sept 1–30. A nationwide coordinated effort held each September to promote emergency preparedness in the home, workplace, school and community. The US Department of Homeland Security and a wide variety of public and private sector organizations will participate in events and activities to highlight the importance of emergency preparedness.

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/national-alcohol-and-drug-addiction-recovery-month)

Sept 1–30. An initiative of the US Department of Health and Human Services and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Celebrated in local communities throughout the nation, this celebration highlights the benefits of substance abuse treatment and recovery, lauds the contributions of drug and alcohol abuse treatment providers and promotes the message that recovery from drug and alcohol use in all its forms is possible.

Mold Awareness Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/mold-awareness-month)

Sept 1–30. Mold growth indoors and its negative impact on human health, especially on children and the elderly, is something only recently understood and widely accepted. As we begin to close our doors and our windows for the winter months ahead, take this time to become more aware about mold growth indoors, its causes, cures and prevention.

AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/akc-responsible-dog-ownership-month)

Sept 1–30. A month to celebrate the commitment it takes to have a canine companion with a series of events that include educational and entertaining activities such as obedience/agility demonstrations, low-cost micro-chipping clinics, breed rescue information, therapy dog/service dog demonstrations, safety around dogs for kids presentations, giveaways and more!

Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/be-kind-to-editors-and-writers-month)

Sept 1–30. A time for editors and writers to show uncommon courtesy toward each other.

Atrial Fibrillation Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/atrial-fibrillation-month)

Sept 1–30. To raise awareness of atrial fibrillation, the most common irregular heartbeat. For info: Mellanie True Hills, StopAfib.org, PO Box 541, Greenwood, TX 76246. Phone: (940) 466-9898. E-mail: mhills@stopafib.org. Web: www.StopAfib.org.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-month)

Sept 1–30. To educate healthcare groups, children and family organizations, teachers, parents and others interested in childhood health issues by providing information on effective treatments for ADHD. Some treatments have been scientifically validated, tested and proven to reduce the severity of ADHD symptoms and thereby reduce adverse consequences in the child’s current and future life. For info: PPSI, c/o Pharmacy Council on Children’s Health, 101 Lucas Valley Rd, Ste 382, San Rafael, CA 94903. Phone: (415) 479-8628. Fax: (415) 479-8608. E-mail: ppsi@aol.com. Web: www.ppsinc.org.

Backpack Safety America Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/backpack-safety-america-month)

Sept 1–30. Millions of school-age children are straining in pain under backpacks that are too heavy for their growing bodies. This month is set aside to remind students, parents and teachers about the safe and proper ways to choose, pack, lift and carry a backpack. Annually, the month of September. For info: John Carroll, PO Box 2430, Mt Pleasant, SC 29465. Phone: (800) 672-4277. Fax: (843) 881-6746. E-mail: info@backpacksafe.com. Web: www.backpacksafe.com.

National Chicken Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/national-chicken-month)

Sept 1–30. Focuses food shoppers’ and restaurant customers’ attention on chicken as the most healthy, convenient, economical and versatile food available; in short, “America’s favorite.” For info: Bill Roenigk, Sr VP, Natl Chicken Council, 1015 15th St NW, Ste 930, Washington, DC 20005. Phone: (202) 296-2622. Fax: (202) 293-4005. E-mail: WRoenigk@chickenUSA.org. Web: www.nationalchickenmonth.com or www.eatchicken.com.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/childhood-cancer-awareness-month)

Sept 1–30. Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation is dedicated to eliminating pediatric cancer and to providing hope and support to those touched by it. Pediatric cancer is the number one cause of death by disease in children. For info: Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, 55 W Wacker Dr, Ste 1100, Chicago, IL 60601. Phone: (312) 214-1200. Fax: (312) 214-7797. E-mail: office@bearneces sities.org. Web: www.bearnecessities.org.

College Savings Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/college-savings-month)

Sept 1–30. Encourages families to plan ahead for the cost of college attendance. College savings programs make it easy and affordable for the average family to save and are available in most states. The programs offer affordable, flexible and tax-advantaged savings options that deliver the dream of education to our most precious resources—the children of America. Sponsored by the College Savings Plan Network of the National Association of State Treasurers. For info: College Savings Plan Network, PO Box 11910, Lexington, KY 40578-1910. Phone: (859) 244-8175. Fax: (859) 244-8053. E-mail: cspn@csg.org. Web: www.collegesavings.org.

National Coupon Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/national-coupon-month)

Sept 1–30. Sponsored by the Coupon Council of the Promotional Marketing Association and celebrates the nearly $3 billion savings American consumers receive each year by redeeming coupons for their favorite brands. Contests and fun activities are planned on a national level to raise the awareness of coupons and their redemption value. For info: Charles K. Brown, NCH Marketing Services, Inc, 155 Pfingsten Rd, Ste 200, Deerfield, IL 60015. Phone: (847) 317-5588. Fax: (847) 317-5628. E-mail: cbrown@nchmarketing.com. Web: www.couponmonth.com.

National DNA, Genomics & Stem Cell Education and Awareness Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/national-dna-genomics-stem-cell-education-and-awareness-month)

Sept 1–30. Pharmacists Planning Service, Inc (PPSI), along with the Pharmacy Council on Personalized Health Care, declare September as our education and awareness month. For posters, pamphlets, literature or any additional information, please contact us! For info: Fred Mayer, Pharmacists Planning Service, Inc, 101 Lucas Valley Rd, Ste 382, San Rafael, CA 94903. Phone: (415) 479-8628. E-mail: ppsi@aol.com. Web: www.ppsinc.org.

Fall Hat Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/fall-hat-month)

Sept 1–30. A month of celebration during which the straw hat is put aside in favor of the felt or fabric hat by both men and women. Local businesses and the media are encouraged to plan hat-related activities. Widely observed in the fashion industry. Originally sponsored by the Headwear Information Bureau.

Go Wild During California Wild Rice Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/go-wild-during-california-wild-rice-month)

Sept 1–30. To promote greater appreciation and use of cultivated wild rice. California wild rice growers want America to know that wild rice is no longer simply hiding inside a holiday turkey. This versatile grain can add a gourmet touch to meals year-round. Stuff it inside pork chop pockets and chicken breasts or toss it into soups, salads, stir-frys and even pancake and muffin batters. Let your imagination run wild! Annually, the month of September. For info: California Wild Rice Advisory Board. Phone: (916) 863-0312. Web: www.cawildrice.com.

Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/gynecologic-cancer-awareness-month)

Sept 1–30. During September, women are encouraged to learn more about gynecologic cancers—how they can be detected and prevented before they become fatal. For more information, please visit the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation at www.thegcf.org or the Women’s Cancer Network at www.wcn.org. For info: Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, 230 W Monroe, Ste 2528, Chicago, IL 60606. Phone: (312) 578-1439. Fax: (312) 578-9769. E-mail: info@thegcf.org. Web: www.thegcf.org.

National Head Lice Prevention Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/national-head-lice-prevention-month)

Sept 1–30. To promote awareness of how to prevent pediculosis and protect against unnecessary and potentially harmful pesticide treatments for head lice. For info: Natl Pediculosis Assn, 1005 Boylston St, Ste 343, Newton Highlands, MA 02461. Phone: (781) 449-NITS. Fax: (401) 823-4557. E-mail: npa@headlice.org. Web: www.headlice.org or www.licemeister.org.

National Honey Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/national-honey-month)

Sept 1–30. To honor the US’s 212,000 beekeepers and 2.41 million colonies of honeybees, which produce more than 200 million pounds of honey each year. For info: Natl Honey Board, 11409 Business Park Circle, Ste 210, Firestone, CO 80504. Phone: (303) 776-2337. Web: www.honey.com.

Library Card Sign-Up Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/library-card-sign-up-month)

Sept 1–30. This observance was launched in 1987 to meet the challenge of then Secretary of Education William J. Bennett, who said, “Let’s have a national campaign… . every child should obtain a library card—and use it.” Since then, thousands of public and school libraries join each fall in a national effort to ensure every child does just that. Annually, the month of September. For info: American Library Assn, Public Information Office, 50 E Huron St, Chicago, IL 60611. Phone: (312) 280-5043 or (312) 280-5042. E-mail: pio@ala.org. Web: www.ala.org.

National Mushroom Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/national-mushroom-month)

Sept 1–30. To promote the greater appreciation and use of fresh mushrooms. For info: The Mushroom Council, 2880 Zanker Rd, Ste 203, San Jose, CA 95134. Phone: (408) 432-7210. Fax: (408) 432-7213. E-mail: info@mush roominfo.com. Web: mushroominfo.com.

International People Skills Month:

(exc erpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/international-people-skills-month)

Sept 1–30. Get a better job, improve the office atmosphere and increase rapport with your family. How? By refining your people skills and learning how to “de-puzzle” human behavior. More information is available on resolving conflicts, gaining influence and encouraging others. For info: Karla Brandau, People Skills International, 4985 Chartley Circle, Lilburn, GA 30047. Phone: (770) 923-0883. Fax: (770) 931-2530. E-mail: karla@karlaspeaks.com.

National Piano Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/national-piano-month)

Sept 1–30. Recognizes America’s most popular instrument and its more than 20 million players; also encourages piano study by people of all ages. For info: Donald W. Dillon, Exec Dir, Natl Piano Foundation, 5960 W Parker Rd, Ste 278, Plano, TX 75093-7792. Phone: (972) 625-0110. E-mail: don@dondillon.com. Web: www.pianonet.com.

Reunion Planning Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/reunion-planning-month)

Sept 1–30. September is the month when family, class, military, association and corporate reunion committees meet to start planning their upcoming reunions. This is the month to start locating members of your reunion group, organizing your committee, finding a place to meet and designing a reunion that your members will remember for years to come. For info: Dina Carson, PO Box 999, Niwot, CO 80544. E-mail: info@reunionsolutions.com. Web:www.reunionsolutions.com.

National Rice Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/national-rice-month)

Sept 1–30. To focus attention on the importance of rice to the American diet and to salute the US rice industry. For info: USA Rice Federation, 4301 N Fairfax Dr, Ste 425, Arlington, VA 22203. Phone: (703) 236-2300. E-mail: rice info@usarice.com. Web: www.usarice.com.

Sea Cadet Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/sea-cadet-month)

Sept 1–30. Nationwide year-round youth program for boys and girls 11–17 teaches leadership and self-discipline with emphasis on nautically oriented training without military obligation. Various events will take place during each month, nationwide. Est attendance: 10,000. For info: US Naval Sea Cadet Corps, 2300 Wilson Blvd, Ste 200, Arlington, VA 22201. Phone: (703) 243-6910. Fax: (703) 243-3985. E-mail: mford@NAVY LEAGUE.org. Web:www.seacadets.org.

International Self-Awareness Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/international-self-awareness-month)

Sept 1–30. Cath-cart Institute Inc of Lake Sherwood, CA, hosts this month each year to draw attention to the value of knowing oneself. Taking Socrates’ advice “Know thyself,” this effort is targeted to identify, highlight and explore all the various means and models people use for improved understanding. For info: Jim Cathcart, Cathcart Institute Inc, 2324 Crombie Ct, Lake Sherwood, CA 91361-5322. Phone: (800) 222-4883. E-mail: info@cathcart.com. Web:www.cathcart.com.

International Strategic Thinking Month:

(excerpted from http://www.answers.com/topic/international-strategic-thinking-month)

Sept 1–30. A monthlong effort to bring awareness of the universal need to improve thinking skills. The International Center for Strategic Planning hosts this month each year to draw attention to the value of proactively seeking to expand individual views of the world and to remove thought barriers that prevent professional achievement, personal fulfillment, cultural awareness and tolerance. For info: Sherrin Ross Ingram, Intl Center for Strategic Planning, 3 Grant Sq, #101, Hinsdale, IL 60521. Phone: (800) 962-4750. E-mail: info@icfsp.com. Web:www.icfsp.com.

Celebrity Birthdays:

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Gibb)

Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE (born 1 September 1946), is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born on the Isle of Man to English parents. With his brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed the Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major success when they returned to England. Known for his high-pitched falsetto singing voice, Gibb holds the record for consecutive Billboard Hot 100  Number Ones as a writer with six. He also is the only songwriter to have written or co-written five songs that were simultaneously in the Top Ten.

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Estefan)

Gloria Estefan (born Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García; September 1, 1957) is a Cuban American singer, songwriter and actress. She is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 90 million albums sold worldwide, 26.5 million of those in the United States alone. She has won seven Grammy Awards, she is the most successful crossover performer in Latin music to date.

National Trail Mix Day:

(excerpted from http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/August/trailmixday.htm)

National Trail Mix Day features a high energy, tasty treat for the trail or snacks. You can buy packages of trail mix at a store. Or, you can make up your own, using the ingredients you like best.

When you head out to a campout, a hike or to go biking, take the Trail Mix along with you. It provides the extra energy boost to keep you from tiring along the way, and allows you to reach your destination full of pep. Don’t limit trail mix to the trail. It is also good at camp outs.

Eat Outside Day:

(excerpted from http://www.rumela.com/events/eat_outside_day.htm)

Every year we celebrate Eat Outsider Day on 31st August, it is an important event to us because many people consider the last day of August the end of summer. For this reason it’s a good time to plan one more cookout, picnic or just to eat out on the back step. So take out your daily fare under the sun and have a great time with your friends, family and loved ones also make them happy by celebrated this wonderful event.

Love Litigating Lawyers Day:

(excerpted from http://blog.holidays.net/index.php/2009/08/31/august-31-today-were-celebrating-love-litigating-lawyers-day-3/)

What do you call 5000 dead lawyers at the bottom of the ocean?

A good start!

Ha! Ha! Ha! Don’t’cha just love a good lawyer joke? Me too! But enough of that – today is really a day for honoring those lawyers that really do make a difference in the world with their work.

Day of Solidarity and Freedom:

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidarity)

Solidarity was the first non-Communist-controlled trade union in a Warsaw Pact country. In the 1980s it constituted a broad anti-bureaucratic social movement. The government attempted to destroy the union during the period of martial law in the early 1980s and several years of repression, but in the end it had to start negotiating with the union. The Round Table Talks between the government and the Solidarity-led opposition led to semi-free elections in 1989. By the end of August a Solidarity-led coalition government was formed and in December 1990 Wałęsa was elected President of Poland. Since then it has become a more traditional trade union.

Today in History:

1997 Princess Diana dies

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/8/31)

Diana, Princess of Wales, dies in Paris’ Pitie-Salpetiere Hospital after suffering massive chest injuries in an early morning car accident. Her companion, Dodi Fayed, was killed instantly in the 12:25 a.m. crash, as was driver Henri Paul, who was drunk and lost control of the Mercedes in a highway underpass. He was driving at excessive speeds in a reckless attempt to escape paparazzi photographers. Diana’s bodyguard, Trevor Rees Jones, escaped with serious but nonfatal injuries. He was the only one wearing his seat belt. The death of Diana, beloved by millions for her beauty and good nature, plunged the world into mourning.

1935 FDR signs Neutrality Act

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/8/31?catId=9)

On this day in 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Neutrality Act, or Senate Joint Resolution No. 173, which he calls an “expression of the desire…to avoid any action which might involve [the U.S.] in war.” The signing came at a time when newly installed fascist governments in Europe were beginning to beat the drums of war.

Celebrity Birthdays:

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Gere)

Richard Tiffany Gere (pronounced /ˈɡɪər/, geer; born August 31, 1949) is an American actor. He began acting in the 1970s, and came to prominence in 1980 for his role in the film American Gigolo, which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol. He went on to star in several hit films including Days of Heaven, An Officer and a Gentleman, Pretty Woman, Primal Fear, and Chicago, for which he won a Golden Globe Award as Best Actor, as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the Best Cast.

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_morrison)

Van Morrison, OBE (born George Ivan Morrison; 31 August 1945) is a critically acclaimed Northern Irish singer and songwriter with a reputation for being stubborn and idiosyncratic. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It’s Too Late to Stop Now, are widely viewed as among the greatest ever made.

Known as “Van the Man” to his fans, Morrison started his professional career when, as a young teenager in the late 1950s, he played a variety of instruments including guitar, harmonica, keyboards and saxophone in a range of Irish showbands who covered the popular hits of the day before rising to prominence in the mid-1960s as the lead singer of the gritty Northern Irish R&B band Them with whom he recorded the garage band classic, “Gloria”. His solo career began under the pop-hit oriented guidance of Bert Berns with the release of the hit single “Brown Eyed Girl” in 1967. After Berns’ death, Warner Bros. Records bought out his contract and allowed him three sessions to record Astral Weeks in 1968. Even though this album would gradually garner high praise, it was initially poorly received; however, the next one, Moondance, established Morrison as a major artist, and throughout the 1970s he built on his reputation with a series of critically acclaimed albums and live performances. Morrison continues to record and tour, producing albums and live performances that sell well and are generally warmly received, sometimes collaborating with other artists, such as Georgie Fame and The Chieftains. In 2008 he performed Astral Weeks live for the first time since 1968.

National Toasted Marshmallow Day:

(excerpted from http://holidayinsights.com/other/marsh.htm)

During eleven out of the  twelve months of the year, we enjoy a wide range of holidays. When we get to August, there is a major shortage of big holidays to celebrate. Perhaps that is why many Europeans take the month of August off for vacation.

Perhaps it as just as well that there are no big holidays to compete with National Marshmallow Toasting Day. After all, how could any holiday compare with this day!?!

Enjoy today or tonight by a campfire or bonfire, toasting a big, soft, sticky and sweet marshmallow, or two, or three, or….. Summer would not be the same without a campfire and this great campfire treat.Summer is short. Summer is good. So enjoy it while it is still here. Toast a marshmallow and forget about everything else.

Frankenstein Day:

(excerpted from http://holidayinsights.com/other/frankenstein.htm)

There are three known “days’, and as a result, a little confusion. We have Frankenstein Friday, National Frankenstein Day, and Frankenstein Day. Let’s clarify these days for you…….

Frankenstein Day is on August 30. This day is in honor of author Mary Wollenstone Shelley who was born on August 30,1797. She wrote the book “Frankenstein “in 1818. This day in in honor of her birth.

National Holistic Pet Day:

(excerpted from http://blog.holidays.net/index.php/2007/08/30/august-30-today-were-observing-national-holistic-pet-day/)

A day for educating and promoting the use of natural and holistic treatments for your pets and animals.

International Day of the Disappeared:

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_of_the_Disappeared)

The International Day of the Disappeared on August 30 is an annual commemoration day created to draw attention to the fate of individuals imprisoned at places and under poor conditions unknown to their relatives and/or legal representatives. The impulse for the day came from the Latin American Federation of Associations for Relatives of Detained-Disappeared (Federación Latinoamericana de Asociaciones de Familiares de Detenidos-Desaparecidos, or FEDEFAM), a non-governmental organization founded in 1981 in Costa Rica as an association of local and regional groups actively working against secret imprisonment and forced disappearances in a number of Latin-American countries.

Victory Day (Turkey):

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_Day)

Victory Day (local name: Zafer Bayramı) on August 30 is a national holiday in Turkey to commemorate the victory in the Battle of Dumlupınar, the final battle in the Turkish War of Independence in 1922.

Liberation Day (Hong Kong):

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cenotaph_%28Hong_Kong%29)

During British rule, after 1945, Liberation Day celebration took place here on the last Monday in August to commemorate the Liberation of Hong Kong from Japanese occupation  in 1945. No official ceremonies are marked here since 1997. Unofficial delegations do mark events here. The flag poles are empty since 1997, neither the Chinese nor SAR flags are placed here. Formal celebration no longer take place as this date is no longer a general holiday in Hong Kong. Informal celebration by local and British servicemen continue each August at this site.

Today in History:

1967 Thurgood Marshall confirmed as Supreme Court justice

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/8/30)

On this day in 1967, Thurgood Marshall becomes the first African American to be confirmed as a Supreme Court justice. He would remain on the Supreme Court for 24 years before retiring for health reasons, leaving a legacy of upholding the rights of the individual as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

1963 Hotline established between Washington and Moscow

(excerpted from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hotline-established-between-washington-and-moscow)

On this day in 1963, John F. Kennedy becomes the first U.S. president to have a direct phone line to the Kremlin in Moscow. The “hotline” was designed to facilitate communication between the president and Soviet premier.

The establishment of the hotline to the Kremlin came in the wake of the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, in which the U.S. and U.S.S.R had come dangerously close to all-out nuclear war. Kennedy’s administration had discovered that the Soviets had planted missiles capable of launching nuclear warheads into the U.S. on the island of Cuba. The highly tense diplomatic exchange that followed was plagued by delays caused by slow and tedious communication systems. Encrypted messages had to be relayed by telegraph or radioed between the Kremlin and the Pentagon. Although Kennedy and Khrushchev were able to resolve the crisis peacefully and had both signed a nuclear test-ban treaty on August 5, 1963, fears of future “misunderstandings” led to the installation of an improved communications system.

Celebrity Birthday:

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antony_Gormley)

Antony Gormley OBE RA (born 30 August 1950) is an English sculptor. His best known works include the Angel of the North, a public sculpture in Gateshead commissioned in 1995 and erected in February 1998, Another Place on Crosby Beach near Liverpool, and Event Horizon, a multi-part site installation which premiered in London in 2007, and in 2010 around Madison Square in New York City.

In 2007, Gormley’s Event Horizon, consisting of 31 life-size and anatomically-correct casts of his body, four in cast iron and 27 in fiberglass, was installed on top of prominent buildings along London’s South Bank, and was later installed in locations around New York City’s Madison Square in 2010. Gormley said of the New York site that “Within the condensed environment of Manhattan’s topography, the level of tension between the palpable, the perceivable and the imaginable is heightened because of the density and scale of the buildings” and that in this context, the project should “activate the skyline in order to encourage people to look around. In this process of looking and finding, or looking and seeking, one perhaps re-assess one’s own position in the world and becomes aware of one’s status of embedment.” Critic Howard Halle said of it that “Using distance and attendant shifts of scale within the very fabric of the city, [Event Horizon] creates a metaphor for urban life and all the contradictory associations – alienation, ambition, anonymity, fame – it entails.”

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Williams)

Theodore Samuel Williams (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002) was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball. He played 21 seasons with the Boston Red Sox, twice interrupted by military service as a Marine Corps pilot. Nicknamed The Kid, the Splendid Splinter, Teddy Ballgame, and The Thumper, he is widely considered one of the greatest hitters ever.

Williams was a two-time American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) winner, led the league in batting six times, and won the Triple Crown twice. He had a career batting average of .344, with 521 home runs, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966. He is the last player in Major League Baseball to bat over .400 in a single season (.406 in 1941). Williams holds the highest career batting average of anyone with 500 or more home runs. His career year was 1939, in 1941 he hit .406 with 37 HR, 120 RBI, and 135 runs scored. His .551 on base percentage set a record that stood for 61 years. An avid sport fisherman, he hosted a television show about fishing and was inducted into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame.

(excerpted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameron_Diaz)

Cameron Michelle Diaz (born August 30, 1972) is an American actress and former model. She gained fame in the 1990s with roles in the blockbuster films The Mask, My Best Friend’s Wedding, and There’s Something About Mary. Other notable film credits include Charlie’s Angels, Vanilla Sky, Gangs of New York, and voicing Princess Fiona in the Shrek film series. Diaz received Golden Globe nominations for her performances in There’s Something About Mary, Being John Malkovich, Vanilla Sky, and Gangs of New York.