November 8, 2014

Today we celebrate:

Abet and Aid Punsters Day – Puns are so bad, they are good. Today, encourage the people who tell you puns by laughing instead of groaning, even if they are really bad puns.  Here’s one to start you off: I’m reading a book about anti-gravity.  It’s impossible to put down.

Domino Day – Celebrated on either the second Friday or the second Saturday of November (so this could be on November 14th instead or in addition to today), this is a day to play with dominoes. You can play games with your dominoes or you can build elaborate designs by lining up the dominoes upright on their short sides close together so that when you push the first one over, the rest will cascade in a wave effect.  Look up the World Record for Dominoes and see if you can even contemplate breaking it.

National Parents As Teachers Day – Created by the National Center for Parents as Teachers, this is a day to pay tribute to all the organizations around the country that give parents of young children support, encouragement and the information they need to help their children learn and develop to their full potential.

National Walk To Work Day – We had one of these back in April, and this is the same thing but with a different sponsor. They have this day in Australia as well and it seems to be a bigger event there.  I think the directions here are self explanatory, but I wouldn’t recommend that people who have a commute of more than a couple of miles celebrate this day if you either want to get to work on time or want to sleep the night before instead of walking all night.

X-ray Day – On this day in 1895, Wilhelm Rontgen, a German physicist, discovered x-rays while experimenting with electricity. This achievement earned him the very first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901 and he had a radioactive element named after him.

National Dunce Day – On this day in 1308, John Duns Scotus died. He was beatified by the Catholic Church in 1993. Mr. Scotus believed that a pointed, conical cap worn on the head would increase the ability to learn by funneling knowledge into the head of the one wearing said cap. It eventually turned into something associated with stupidity or ignorance and was used to embarrass students who were slow learners or who didn't behave the way they should.

To celebrate everything in one day, wear your dunce cap to enhance your learning experience as you teach your children about x-ray's, puns and how to play with dominoes. Then walk to work to save the environment.