February 26, 2015

‘Come on and take a free ride,’ says Rauner

Rock fans may remember the Edgar Winter Group, which had a hit song called “Free Ride” back in the ‘70s.

It’s apparently the new theme song of Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, who wants non-union public employees to benefit from union contracts without having to pay for representation.

“Come on and take a free ride,” says the song. “Come on and take it by my side. Come on and take a free ride.”

Pretty good song – pretty bad policy.

http://labortribune.com/come-on-and-take-a-free-ride-says-rauner/

February 26, 2015

Missouri legislators vote to lower workers’ wages

Jefferson City – Buoyed by an overwhelming Republican majority, the Missouri House, for the first time ever, approved a right-to-work bill Feb. 12 that curbs union rights.

The state’s Workforce Standards and Development Committee also took up two paycheck deception measures, also sponsored by Republicans.

The right-to-work measure combines House Bills HB116 and HB569 and would apply to all unions. But the 91-64 vote was far short of the 109 needed to withstand a veto from Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon.

The measure is moving to the Missouri Senate, where it faces a possible Democratic filibuster.

http://labortribune.com/missouri-legislators-vote-to-lower-workers-wages/

February 26, 2015

Daily Holidays - February 26

World Pistachio Day Hard to believe, but it wasn’t until 1976 that Americans harvested the first commercial crop of pistachios. They had been enjoying the nut since about the 1800s, but it was not until the 1930s that the love for pistachios really took off.

What may have made the little tree nut so admired, though, is the invention of pistachio ice cream in the 1940s by James W. Parkinson of Philadelphia.

Today, California produces 300 million pounds of pistachios, which is about 98 percent of the domestic crop. Other world producers include Turkey, Syria, Italy and Greece.

Remember getting that red dye all over your fingers back in the day when pistachios were dyed crimson? Hard to imagine now but the apparent reason for the colouring was to hide flaws on the shell and to make them stand out in vending machines! http://www.worldpistachioday.com

National Chili Day While many food historians agree that chili con carne is an American dish with Mexican roots, Mexicans are said to indignantly deny any association with the dish.

Enthusiasts of chili say one possible though far-fetched starting point comes from Sister Mary of Agreda, a Spanish nun in the early 1600s who never left her convent yet had out-of-body experiences in which her spirit was transported across the Atlantic to preach Christianity to the Indians. After one of the return trips, her spirit wrote down the first recipe for chili con carne: chili peppers, venison, onions, and tomatoes.

Another yarn goes that Canary Islanders who made their way to San Antonio as early as 1723, used local peppers and wild onions combined with various meats to create early chili combinations. http://www.nationalchiliday.com/chili-history.html#.VO7Xmik-CCk

National Personal Chef's Day No, kids and husbands, it’s not the same thing as Mothers Day!

The United States Personal Chef Association (USPCA) proudly offers you your chance to serenade the single-minded, single-handed, solo pan handler and knife brandisher in your life.
They say most chefs could start a fight in an empty room so give yours some love on Personal Chef Day. The chances are you’re their only fan and also their only critic on a daily basis. Has the relationship become stale? Why not enliven it in the obvious fashion- by cooking them a meal and telling them not to hold back their opinions. Then, as a few pieces of your finest china go whizzing past your ear you can feel happy that you’ve allowed your go-it-alone gastronaut to let off steam. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/personal-chef-day/

For Pete's Sake Day Oh, for Pete’s sake! Not another pointless holiday?

For Pete’s Sake Day celebrates one example of a ‘minced oath’, where an offensive word or phrase is substituted by something more acceptable in society. Other examples include ‘For crying out loud!’, and ‘Sugar!’. Such euphemisms have been used for centuries whenever people hit thumbs with hammers, burn hands on hot plates, or sit on sharp things while in polite company. Why has Pete been singled out for special attention?

In the case of this particular minced oath, Pete is likely to refer to St Peter. However, if there’s a Pete in your life, why not do something for his sake? It doesn’t have to be much – making him a cup of tea or a nice sandwich would be good! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/for-petes-sake-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/february26.html

February 25, 2015

Judge rules Gov. Chris Christie broke state law by not making full pension payments

Problems keep mounting for GOP presidential hopeful Chris Christie. Rivals of the New Jersey governor are poaching some of his homegrown fundraisers, his recent trip to London to burnish his foreign policy credentials was less than dandy, and on Monday, a New Jersey judge landed a blow to the heart of Christie’s political brand: his tough stance against government spending and public employee unions.

New Jersey Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson ruled in favor of the unions that sued Christie, saying that his failure to make full payments to their pension system violated the state’s constitutional obligation to workers. She also ordered Christie to work with the legislature to satisfy the state’s obligation.

The decision came after Christie pushed unions into an agreement that required public employees to sharply increase the amount of money they contribute to their pensions. In exchange, the state promised to increase its contributions to the state’s underfunded retirement system.

The 2011 agreement helped catapult Christie to national attention for his determined stance against what he described as generous public employee benefits that were crippling New Jersey’s finances and contributing to the state’s high taxes.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/judge-deals-a-big-setback-to-chris-christie-in-his-fight-against-unions/2015/02/23/f6f2c636-bbae-11e4-b274-e5209a3bc9a9_story.html

February 25, 2015

Daily Holidays - February 25

National Clam
Chowder Day It's National Clam Chowder Day! All across the country people will be lining up with spoons in hand to dive into a nice warm cup of clam chowder. In Worcester, people will be fighting the large snow banks and the cold weather to get clam chowder at their favorite spots.
GoLocal Worcester wants to make it easier for those folks that are willing to brave the elements. GoLocal has put together the Ten Best Bowls of Clam Chowder in Worcester.

Staying in? Here are some great Clam Chowder recipes:

Dave Lieberman's Clam Chowder Recipe
Contest Winning Clam Chowder Recipe
My Best Clam Chowder Recipe

Not a fan of chowder? Check out these other great soups found in Worcester: Still Cold? The Ten Best Soups in Worcester.
http://www.golocalworcester.com/food/its-national-clam-chowder-day-10-best-bowls-of-clam-chowder-in-worcester


Inconvenience Yourself Day
Inconvenience Yourself Day
Inconvenience Yourself Day is an opportunity to focus on inconveniencing ourselves instead of inconveniencing others. It is also a day to recognize and acknowledge those who inconvenience themselves for others. Acknowledgment can be verbal, a note, or some small token of appreciation. http://www.inconvenienceyourself.com

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/february25.html

February 24, 2015

Daily Holidays - February 24

National Tortilla Chip
 Day It’s National Tortilla Chip Day! Rebecca Webb Carranza invented tortilla chips in the 1950s. Carranza and her husband owned the El Zarape Tortilla Factory in Los Angeles and were among the first to automate the production of tortillas. The machine often produced misshapen tortillas, and Carranza decided to try and use them instead of throwing them away. She cut the rejected tortillas into triangles, fried them, and sold them for a dime a bag.

Tortilla chips soon became a nationwide sensation, served alongside salsa, chili, guacamole, and a variety of other appetizers. In 2003, the state of Texas made the tortilla chip the official state snack!

To celebrate National Tortilla Chip Day, buy a bag of your favorite tortilla chips (or try making your own) and enjoy them with your favorite dip! http://www.punchbowl.com/holidays/national-tortilla-chip-day

Spay Day USA Cats and dogs are homeless everywhere.

In every community, in every state, in every country.

There are so many homeless pets; animal protection organizations and shelters simply don’t have the space or resources to provide care or find homes for them all.

friendly catMichelle Riley
An estimated 2.4 million healthy and treatable cats and dogs are put down in U.S. shelters each year. That’s one every 13 seconds. These are sweet pets who would have made great companions. Internationally, millions of stray animals roam the streets. Too often, governments deal with this overpopulation through cruel means, such as poisoning, electrocution and shooting. http://www.worldspayday.org/whyworldspayday/

Single Tasking Day Research shows that multitasking is really inefficient. Trying to focus on and hop between multiple tasks dilutes focus, introduces delays, and makes things take longer to complete. Single Tasking Day, then, is about embracing one and only one task. Make a list, put it in order of priority, and get started on a task – and ignore everything else until you finish it! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/single-tasking-day/

World Bartender Day World Bartender Day is the day to appreciate the staff in your local bar. They work hard to keep their customers happy and often don’t get paid very well! Remember to always be friendly to the bartender, especially by being patient if you have to wait to be served. Give the bartender a smile and say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ – the bartender will appreciate it and you are more likely to get better service next time you buy a drink. Most importantly, if you’re in a country where tipping is expected, make sure you tip appropriately!

Anyone want a drink? https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-bartender-day/

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/february24.html

February 23, 2015

Daily Holidays - February 23

National Banana Bread Day
1. Banana trees are considered giant herbs, not ‘trees’ at all
2. A cluster of bananas is known as a hand, each banana are fingers.
3. Rubbing the inside of a banana peel on bug bites are said to relieve itching and inflammation.
4. Over 95% of American households purchase banana at least once a month.
5. Bananas are one of the only fruits harvested every day of the year. They do not grow in regions that have dramatic seasonal changes.

http://foodimentary.com/2014/02/23/february-23-is-national-banana-bread-day/

Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day https://www.facebook.com/events/8748422123/

Curling is Cool Day http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Curling

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/february23.html

February 22, 2015

Daily Holidays - February 22

National Margarita Day National Margarita Day 2015 is Feb. 22!
We pay tribute and honor the margarita on this special day of celebration. We so deeply respect and value its place in our history that we have set aside Feb. 22 of every year as National Margarita Day.
Loved and consumed by millions, friends and families around the world honor this sacred tequila, triple sec and lime drink every year on February 22. http://nationalmargaritaday.com

Daytona 500 http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Tickets-Events/Events/2015/Daytona-500/DAYTONA-500.aspx

87th Academy Awards Ceremony http://oscar.go.com

World Thinking Day World Thinking Day is a day of friendship, advocacy and fundraising for girls around the world. http://www.worldthinkingday.org/en/home

George Washington's Birthday George Washington (February 22, 1732 [O.S. February 11, 1731][Note 1][Note 2] – December 14, 1799) was the first President of the United States (1789–1797), the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.[4] He presided over the convention that drafted the United States Constitution, which replaced the Articles of Confederation and remains the supreme law of the land. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/february22.html

February 21, 2015

Daily Holidays - February 21

National Sticky Bun Day While you're frying up some eggs and bacon, we're cooking up something else: a way to celebrate today's food holiday.

Craving a warm, bready breakfast? You're in luck - February 21 is National Sticky Bun Day.

Do you know the difference between a sticky bun and a cinnamon roll? The two pastries are similar in that they typically have cinnamon, sugar, nuts and sometimes raisins rolled between concentric circles of yeasty dough, but the major difference is that sticky buns are baked in a brown sugar glaze.

The sugary goo is put in the bottom of a baking pan and then the rounds of dough are placed on top. When the buns are done baking, the pan is inverted and the syrup becomes a sticky sauce over the buns. This is different from cinnamon rolls, which are glazed with vanilla or cream cheese icing after they come out of the oven. http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2013/02/21/national-sticky-bun-day/

International Mother Language Day International Mother Language Day is an observance held annually on 21 February worldwide to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. It was first announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999. Its observance was also formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution establishing 2008 as the International Year of Languages.[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mother_Language_Day

World Information Architecture Day World IA Day Connects the World Through Information Architecture
World Information Architecture Day is a free one-day annual conference hosted by the Information Architecture Institute and held in dozens of cities across the world.

We are a community of like-minded professionals and enthusiasts who share the common goal of teaching, learning, and shaping the future of Information Architecture.

Each year, a new theme is selected, new cities are added, and our community continues to grow as more people from all across the world join this truly global celebration of Information Architecture. http://2015.worldiaday.org

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/february21.html

February 20, 2015

Daily Holidays - February 20

National Cherry Pie Day Remember Washington’s Birthday? Way back when, it was a sort-of school holiday (I confess being old enough to celebrate Washington’s birthday on the actual date, instead of the now calendar-convenienced President’s Day). These days I remember the Father of Our Country mostly for his effect on the Mother of Our Family.

Mom made this cherry pie every year, mostly because a) who doesn’t like cherry pie? and b) it was fun to have an annual reason to bake one.

Today is National Cherry Pie Day, and even though the story of young George, his hatchet, and the cherry tree was likely a work of fiction on the part of Parson Mason Weems, Americans have spent more than 200 years with the association, and frankly, it has stuck. http://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2012/02/20/national-cherry-pie-day-red-white-and-you/

Love Your Pet Day http://fox8.com/2015/02/17/celebrate-love-your-pet-day/

Northern Hemisphere Hoodie Hoo Day TAKES PLACE ONE MONTH FROM SPRING! Go outside at high noon local time and wave a beach towel or swimsuit at the sun and shout Hoodie-Hoo three times. Warmer weather will show up eventually. Go to www.wellcat.com/february/northern_hemisphere_hoodie.htm and see all about it! It's actually celebrated in many nations, and by school students everywhere. https://www.facebook.com/events/127703523963510/

World Day for Social Justice The General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 20 February as World Day of Social Justice.

Social development aims at social justice, solidarity, harmony and equality within and among countries and social justice, equality and equity constitute the fundamental values of all societies. To achieve “a society for all” governments made a commitment to the creation of a framework for action to promote social justice at national, regional and international levels. http://www.wfto.com/events/world-day-social-justice-2015

Women in Blue Jeans Days Celebrating Women in Rural America

Whether you are just beginning your journey into a busy life of family and work or looking forward to an opportunity to slow down and enjoy your accomplishments, be sure to join Women In Blue Jeans at the 2015 conference to celebrate women of all generations! http://www.womeninbluejeans.org

http://www.famousbirthdays.com/february20.html