Today is...

[IceWizard]

29 May 2017


Memorial Day



Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May. It was formerly known as Decoration Day and commemorates all men and women who have died in military service for the United States. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day and it is traditionally seen as the start of the summer season.

What Do People Do?

It is traditional to fly the flag of the United States at half staff from dawn until noon. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries. Memorial Day is combined with Jefferson Davis' Birthday in Mississippi.
Memorial Day has become less of an occasion of remembrance. Many people choose to hold picnics, sports events and family gatherings on this weekend. This day is traditionally seen as the start of the summer season for cultural events. For the fashion conscious, it is seen as acceptable to wear white clothing, particularly shoes from Memorial Day until Labor Day. However, fewer and fewer people follow this rule and many wear white clothing throughout the year.

Public Life

Memorial Day is a federal holiday. All non-essential Government offices are closed, as are schools, businesses and other organizations. Most public transit systems do not run on their regular schedule. Many people see Memorial Day weekend as an opportunity to go on a short vacation or visit family or friends. This can cause some congestion on highways and at airports.

Background

Memorial Day started as an event to honor Union soldiers who had died during the American Civil War. It was inspired by the way people in the Southern states honored their dead. After World War I, it was extended to include all men and women who died in any war or military action.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. The current name for this day did not come into use until after World War II. Decoration Day and then Memorial Day used to be held on May 30, regardless of the day of the week, on which it fell. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed as part of a move to use federal holidays to create three-day weekends. This meant that that, from 1971, Memorial Day holiday has been officially observed on the last Monday in May. However, it took a longer period for all American states to recognize the new date.





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Learn About Composting Day



You know what’s irritating? The cost of potting soil, and the smell of rotting vegetables in your garbage can. In fact, it’s also irritating that there’s no good use for eggshells or old coffee grounds, or is there? All of these ingredients (and much more!) can be added to a compost bin to create a delightful and nutrient rich mulch that can go into our gardens! Not only will it reduce the amount of food waste in your house, it will also give you a way to enrich your garden through composting! Learn About Composting Day is dedicated to spreading information and awareness about this fun, green, and money-saving activity!

History of Learn About Composting Day

Who would have thought that the waste from your kitchen could turn into rich nutrients for the food in your backyard? Learn About Composting Day shows you how those ingredients (and more things you may be surprised to learn about!) can help accelerate your garden by filling it with nutrient rich mulch! Tired of raking leaves from your front yard and bagging them up for garbage day? Wish there was something you could do with all those newspapers once you’re done reading them? You can! These can all go into your composting bin!

For those who don’t know, composting is the practice of taking certain types of waste that occur in our homes every day, and putting them into a compost bin to steadily decompose. With the right mixture of ingredients, which can range from wood ash, to grass clipping, eggshells, even hair and fur, you can create a powerful and rich nutrient mix that will have your plants growing bigger than ever!

All you have to do is create a simple compost bin, or just a pile of organic material, and come out to stir it once a month with a shovel. During the winter you only have to turn it over every three or four weeks, since it doesn’t have the heat from the sun to speed decomposition.

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May 29 Birthdays



John F. Kennedy - (1917 - 1963) (46)




Mel B - 42




La Toya Jackson - 61




Bob Hope - (1903 - 2003) (100)




Patrick Henry - (1736 - 1799) (63)








May 29th

2009: Ozzy Osbourne filed a lawsuit against Black Sabbath bandmate Tony Iommi for 50% of the Black Sabbath trademark & claimed Iommi illegally took sole ownership of the Black Sabbath name. The lawsuit would be settled out of court the following year.

2002: David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar kicked off their co-headlining tour at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, OH outside of Cleveland.

1999: Skeletal remains of former Iron Butterfly bassist Philip Kramer were found in a valley near Malibu, CA. Kramer had been missing since February 12, 1995 & his death was ruled a suicide.

1989: John Cipollina, guitarist of Quicksilver Messenger Service died of chronic emphysema. He was 45 years old.

1977: Elvis Presley walked off stage in the middle of a concert at the Civic Center in Baltimore, MD. This is the first time Presley ended a show in this matter.

1973: The Byrds’ Roger McGuinn made his solo live debut at New York City’s Academy of Music. During the concert McGuinn confirmed rumors that The Byrds were no more.

1972: Paul McCartney released his interpretation of the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb” as a single in response to the BBC banning his last single “Give Ireland Back to the Irish”.

1971: The Rolling Stones topped the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart for the sixth time with “Brown Sugar” which spent two weeks on top.

1969: Crosby, Stills & Nash released their self-titled debut album which went on to reach number six on the Billboard 200 Album Chart & sell four million copies in the U.S.



Birthdays:

Gary Brooker - Singer for Procol Harum born in 1945

Mike Porcaro - Bassist for Toto born in 1955