July 13, 2015

Today we celebrate:

Bean ‘n’ Franks Day - This is a day to enjoy hot dogs and baked beans….just do everyone a favor and don’t have too many of those baked beans.

Embrace Your Geekness Day – This is a day to celebrate your inner geek. Embrace the technology age, revel in your knowledge of gaming “stuff” and try not to rub my ignorance in my face too much.

Barbershop Music Appreciation Day – Way back when, before there was radio, music was sung around player pianos or enjoyed at concerts. The Barbershop Quartet was begun around that time. In 1938, Owen Cash and Rupert Hall formed the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing In America. They thought it would be funny to have such a long acronym as S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. (In 2005, they changed it to the more manageable Barbershop Harmony Society.) This day was created in 2005 by Sweet Adelines International (which was begun by the wives of the Barbershop Quarteters in 1945).

National French Fries Day – While we are not sure if these “potatoes served in the French manner” (Thomas Jefferson) originally came to us from France or Belgium, it doesn't really matter. What matters is they are delicious, frequently cooked in a very unhealthy manner at restaurants, and can be found almost anywhere in this country. Now I'm hungry.

International Puzzle Day – This is the 70th birthday of Erno Rubik, the man who invented the Rubik's Cube back in 1980. My daughter has mastered it and many of the variations of the original cube, but I still fumble around with it for hours.  Gaming companies have created this day on January 29th, but if you like puzzles, there’s no reason why you can’t celebrate twice in a year.

International Town Criers Day – This day is celebrated on the second Monday in July. Town crying is an old tradition. There are not too many of them around anymore in this day of instant connections. A town crier is an officer of the court who makes public announcements for the court. In the old days (18th century), they had a dress code of a red and gold robe, white breeches, black boots and a tricorne hat. They would ring a bell and shout, “Oyez, Oyez, Oyez” (which means “hear ye”) and then when they had everyone's attention, they would announce the important news of the court. We don't use this method anymore, I think most courts publish information in the newspaper or maybe they ‘tweet’ it. However, their job was very important in their day and they deserve recognition.

To celebrate today, dress up as a Town Crier and announce the news of the day to the people on the street.  Then you can share some beans ‘n’ franks and french fries with them while you listen to barbershop music together.  Finally, embrace  your geekness and work on some puzzles with your new friends.