the special days of August, pt 1

As we’ve done in previous months, we’re going to look at the special days and holidays of this month.  As usual, this is not a complete list — those can be found elsewhere.  But I guarantee you will not find another list like this one.  This is not a mere list, because we add our own unique commentary and analysis.  In other words, we try to make it more fun.  And you are welcome to add to the discussion in the comments section.

Let’s get started with the month-long celebrations and observances in August:

  • Family Fun Month — A good family outing is a vacation, but if that’s not feasible at this time, try playing the Nintendo Wii.  🙂  This is not a joke — everyone who has tried it has enjoyed it, no matter their age or prior video game experience.
  • Admit You’re Happy Month — Go on, admit it!  Although if you really aren’t happy, you should acknowledge that, and then do something about it.  And fortunately, you’re at the right place.  My personal research has shown that reading this blog will make you happier.
  • National Catfish Month — Mmm… fried catfish…
  • National Golf Month — The sport of golf requires skill and discipline, sure, but it’s boring to many people (myself included).  That’s why I wrote a post about making golf less boring.
  • Peach Month — The best way to enjoy peaches is in cobbler, with vanilla ice cream.  Mmm…
  • Romance Awareness Month — I’m aware of romance.  So I’ve got this holiday covered already.
  • Water Quality Month — This is the month when local water municipalities strive to provide quality water.  Oh, wait, I hope they do that every month.  So what is this observance for?
  • National Picnic Month — Picnics can be a good time.  They make a good diversion from work if you take one during lunch. Just make sure the weather cooperates.  Ironically, this emphasis on picnics is in August, which is typically the hottest month of the year.  That should not be.
  • National Inventors Month — I’ve invented something before, so this is about me.  🙂
  • American Artist Appreciation Month — I’m an artist!  For real, check it out!
  • Foot Health Month — If your feet aren’t healthy, you should stay off them more (i.e., stay in bed more, sit on the couch to watch TV and/or play video games more).
  • Home Business Month — I have a home business.  I wish this meant I would automatically make more money this month.

Now let’s look at the weekly events / celebrations / holidays in August:

  • Week 1 : National Simplify your Life Week — This is actually a good idea.  Slow down, relax, focus on your top priorities, and laugh more.
  • Week 2 : National Smile Week — Smile!  You’re on Candid Cookie!  🙂  Really, studies show that smiling and laughing are good for you, and can even add years to your life.  (And of course, I have to plug my blog here, as its purpose is to make people happier.)
  • Week 3 : Friendship Week — For this week only, I’ll be your friend.  Let’s do lunch.  Have your people contact my people…
  • Week 3 : Air Conditioning Appreciation Week — This holiday is appropriately placed in August.  I’m very appreciative of my air-conditioner!  But, on the other hand, I just wrote an article on my other blog explaining why you don’t need air-conditioning.  It’s true!  Read it if you don’t believe me.
  • Week 3 : American Dance Week — All you party people out there, GET YOUR GROOVE ON!
  • Week 4 : Be Kind to Humankind Week — This is a good idea.  We are all brothers and sisters, after all.  (Well, I’m assuming all my readers are human.  If you are a non-human species and can read this, please let me know via our contact form.)

This is getting quite long (as it usually does), so I’m going to break it up into several parts.   Click here to search for the other entries for August.

Is Wrestling Fake?

In the world of wrestling there is much speculation concerning whether or not it is real.

Die hard wrestling fanatics would say that it is absolutely, positively real, and they revel in the drama that unfolds at each match.

Yet the casual observer watching a match on television may notice some things that seem out of place. Punches being thrown but not landed, Faces contort with agony when nothing has even happened to them yet. (in other words wrestler 1 is reaching up to grab is face even before wrestler 2 has punched him).

So the question is posed… is wrestling fake?

What happens when thousands of screaming fans are in the arena expecting a fight and one of the wrestlers doesn’t show?

Well in the world of wrestling the lack of an opponent is not a show-stopper…

after all… the show must go on.
watch this video and decide for yourself if wrestling is fake.

Do you have an opinion? Please share.

caption contest, John McCain and John Kerry

It’s time for another caption contest!  Same rules as always: write a caption for this photo, from whatever point of view you’d like.  Just remember to follow the language rules here.

Here’s some background on these two together, if you’re interested.  Of course, John McCain is the 2008 Republican Presidential candidate, and John Kerry was the 2004 Democratic Presidential candidate.  McCain also tried to run in 2000 but lost to George W. Bush.  In 2004, Kerry tried to get McCain to be his vice-president, while also offering him Secretary of Defense and other titles.  But McCain refused the offer, because he believed Bush to be the better candidate (even though he didn’t like Bush much).

(To see the other caption contests, click on the “Say What?” category in the sidebar.)

Qwerty Warriors!

Today’s post goes out to all of today’s readers asking themselves the question:

…how can I beat back boredom and help pass the time?
…how can I improve my typing skills and thus my job performance?
…how can I play a game, save the world and still accomplish the above?

well today is your lucky day!

I now present to you …(queue echo effect)
QWERTY WARRIORS!!!! (click here to play)

The rules are simple:
simply pick your skill level and Destroy the oncoming soldiers, tanks, mech warriors and other enemies by typing words to shoot them (note: be sure to hit the ‘enter’ key to submit the word typed)

why don’t we start a friendly competition to see how well you do?
after playing leave a comment on this post with your name, skill level, and score.

(there is also a high scoreboard to see how well you place against other players online)